Long before the calamity in Haiti, many Haitians and their families benefited from working abroad, and many, including me, have suggested allowing more Haitian immigrants into the United States as a way to help the country's economy recover.
It might seem strange that the best solution to Haiti's woes lies outside its borders, but migration and remittances have been responsible for almost all of the poverty reduction that has happened in the island country over the past few decades. They have done enormously more good than any policy intended to reduce poverty inside Haiti during that time. Any poverty-reduction strategy for Haiti going forward that does not include what has been Haitians' most successful poverty-reduction strategy to date is not a serious one.
This idea is a no-brainer if we take a minute to look at the numbers. Read more
Showing posts with label Diasporas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diasporas. Show all posts
Friday, 29 January 2010
Saturday, 23 January 2010
HAITI: Money from Kin Abroad Buoys Haitian Quake Victims
By Jesus Sanchis
PORT-AU-PRINCE – The arrival of the first remittances from abroad since the Jan. 12 earthquake brought a hint of relief Thursday to some of the 3 million Haitians affected by the disaster, which left as many as 200,000 people dead.
The money transfer agencies that opened their doors quickly attracted Port-au-Prince residents desperate for cash to obtain food and other necessities in this devastated capital.
“If I don’t manage to pick up my money today I will die of hunger. I have two children to feed; without money I can do nothing,” Louisse Matturin, a young woman who works at a hotel, told Efe outside the door of one agency. Read more
PORT-AU-PRINCE – The arrival of the first remittances from abroad since the Jan. 12 earthquake brought a hint of relief Thursday to some of the 3 million Haitians affected by the disaster, which left as many as 200,000 people dead.
The money transfer agencies that opened their doors quickly attracted Port-au-Prince residents desperate for cash to obtain food and other necessities in this devastated capital.
“If I don’t manage to pick up my money today I will die of hunger. I have two children to feed; without money I can do nothing,” Louisse Matturin, a young woman who works at a hotel, told Efe outside the door of one agency. Read more
Friday, 1 January 2010
UGANDA: Government plans to scrap Diaspora visa fees
Kampala
The government plans to scrap visa fees it charges Ugandans in the Diaspora when coming back home.
At a two-day Diaspora Summit held in Kampala, State Minister for Internal Affairs Okello Oryem said: “The Immigration department will design special stickers and in that case you will not be charged visa fees when you come back home because you’re citizens.”
According to records from the Immigration Office, people who were formerly Ugandans are charged $400 (Shs760,000) as visa fee.
The scrapping of the visa fee is part of the government’s new strategy that will manage pertinent issues affecting Ugandans living in the Diaspora like harassment and their legitimacy to stay in the respective countries where they live.
“A fully-developed diaspora department will also help guide you on how to invest and succeed back home. In the past Ugandan embassies have been a no-go area for the Diaspora but this is going to change,” he added. Read more
The government plans to scrap visa fees it charges Ugandans in the Diaspora when coming back home.
At a two-day Diaspora Summit held in Kampala, State Minister for Internal Affairs Okello Oryem said: “The Immigration department will design special stickers and in that case you will not be charged visa fees when you come back home because you’re citizens.”
According to records from the Immigration Office, people who were formerly Ugandans are charged $400 (Shs760,000) as visa fee.
The scrapping of the visa fee is part of the government’s new strategy that will manage pertinent issues affecting Ugandans living in the Diaspora like harassment and their legitimacy to stay in the respective countries where they live.
“A fully-developed diaspora department will also help guide you on how to invest and succeed back home. In the past Ugandan embassies have been a no-go area for the Diaspora but this is going to change,” he added. Read more
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Rwanda: Engaging the Diaspora as Force for Dev't
Kigali — Rwandans in the Diaspora are meeting in Kigali to map out strategies on how they can better serve their country. As this important group of Rwandans meet, the Central Bank has given them the green light to set up the Rwanda Diaspora Mutual Fund to mobilize resources for investing in various sectors of their interest within the country.
The Rwandan Diaspora is increasingly becoming an important sector of our society, contributing immensely to the development on this country. Last year, remittances from this group rose to $175 million up from $139 million that was recorded a year before.
The figures are expected to rise this year, despite the on-going global financial crisis. Read More
The Rwandan Diaspora is increasingly becoming an important sector of our society, contributing immensely to the development on this country. Last year, remittances from this group rose to $175 million up from $139 million that was recorded a year before.
The figures are expected to rise this year, despite the on-going global financial crisis. Read More
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