We all would like to see a brighter future for Haiti and I hope this conference will serve to explore many views. Respect for human rights freedom and the rule of law must be established in the poorest nation in our hemisphere.

If you look just at the decades after 1934 you know it's hard to point to really inspired and positive support from outside of Haiti to Haiti and much easier to point to either small-minded or downright mean-spirited policies.

I will work to bring peace to everyone - whatever economic level - as long as you are Haitian.

Canadians have been very generous toward Haiti after the earthquake and thanks to you our most vulnerable people have received food drinkable water shelter medical care and education. For that we are extremely grateful.

Haiti is always talking about decentralization and nothing has been so obvious perhaps a weakness as the centralized nature of Haitian society as being revealed by the earthquake. I mean they lost all these medical training programs because they didn't have them anywhere else.

Civil and political rights are critical but not often the real problem for the destitute sick. My patients in Haiti can now vote but they can't get medical care or clean water.

I wanted to contribute my time myself my knowledge my love because Haiti is my everything.

I am not suggesting that all those missionary organizations working in Haiti should pack up and go home but I am urging them to understand that Haiti does not need clever Americans with newly contrived schemes for saving their country.

It's time for Haitians to have access to health care. It's time to open our borders to the Haitian diaspora open our markets to the world. It's time to open our country to potential investors.

While Haiti has recently celebrated more than 200 years of independence from French colonial rule the citizens of the island remain vulnerable to poverty poor health and political chaos.