Quake brings chance to rebuild, Haiti's ambassador tells Tampa crowd

TAMPA — Despite last month's devastating earthquake, Haiti is not lost, says the country's ambassador to the United States.

Instead, it has been found by the rest of the world, Raymond Joseph told a crowd gathered to hear him speak Thursday night.

"The silver lining is how everyone is now focused on Haiti," he said.

Now the country must use the worldwide attention to rebuild, a process that could take up to 20 years, he said.

Joseph spoke about the future of his homeland at a town hall meeting held at the University Area Community Development Center on N 22nd Street.

He is visiting the Tampa Bay area to attend memorials today in Tampa and Saturday in St. Petersburg for earthquake victims.

Adeline Joassaint of Haiti is staying in the area because her 5-year-old daughter was sent to Tampa General Hospital with injuries after the earthquake. She came to the meeting to hear a voice from home.

"Right now, the physical toll is going down, but the emotional toll is going up," she said through a translator.

Still, hearing Raymond speak of rebuilding Haiti is was comforting, she said.

Members of organizations working to aid the people in Haiti also attended. Most just wanted to know how best to help.

The biggest immediate need is tents for the upcoming rainy season in April, Raymond told them. Long-term help in the areas of education, health and construction are also needed.

Earlier Thursday, Raymond had met with University of South Florida officials to discuss ways the college can help in the years to come.

"We want to focus on those days in the not-so-distant future when the gaze of American TV will steer away from Haiti," USF provost Ralph Wilcox told the ambassador.

The university plans to send engineers, doctors, social workers and supplies that will help the Haitian people not only survive but also rebuild, Wilcox said.

The outpouring of support Haiti has received from the state of Florida gives Joseph new hope, he said.

With Haiti only 800 miles away, Florida will need to play a crucial role in the country's future.

"This is the closest link to Haiti there is," he said.

Shelley Rossetter can be reached at (813) 226-3374 or srossetter@sptimes.com.