Haiti's help is your yes

Fri, Jan 13th 2012, 10:06 AM

Two years after the devastating earthquake struck Haiti, a group of 10 organizations have banded together to host a concert to raise funds to assist the people of Haiti.
The concert dubbed "Haiti's Help Is Your Yes!" will be held tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Enoch Beckford Auditorium on Carmichael Road. Admission is free, but donations, pledges and gift offerings will be accepted.
Performing gospel and conscious music will be Benedict Lamartine, Anna Calixte, Bishop Lawrence Rolle, Group D'Homme Emmanuel (Berean Baptist Church), Theogene Jean Louis (Cornerstone Church), Paul Hanna, Poem by Rosny Jean (Queen of Peace), Seventh-day Adventist men's group, Boys of God, and Mr. J (Gefner Dalmon).
They are expecting the 3,000-seat auditorium to be filled at capacity to hear the uplifting music, guest pastor Maxso Joseph and amputee victims from Haiti.
"The primary purpose of the concert is to sensitize Haitians and Haitians of Bahamian descent, Bahamians and the world to Haiti's current plight and pain," said concert organizer Robert Dieudonne. "Two years after the earthquake, Haiti is still in need of prayer. Haiti is still in need of participation in its restoration."
Organizations comprising the Power of 10 group include the Haitian Embassy, United Associations of Haitians in The Bahamas, Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church, the Haitian Pastors Association, Real Men Ministries, Haitian Chapter Viahmo, Bahamas Faith Ministries Intl., True Vision Media Group, Church of the Nazarene and Benedict Larmartine.
"The Power of 10 have realized this finger-tapping won't work and that we need a consolidated effort, a collaborative front in order to bring any real effectiveness -- even in a small way," said Dieudonne. "So we've committed to come together to focus on particular projects and we will focus on the kids, the domestic servants, kids who can't go to school but are allowed to work 12 to 16 hours a day just to have a place where they can be accommodated. We're going to focus on the more than 100,000 amputees who are still waiting on prosthetics, wheelchairs, therapy, and vocational training."
The billions of dollars that have been collected, Dieudonne says can go towards constructing infrastructure. He says they are interested in dealing with the human element and building lives - that is where they will focus their support.
Dieudonne says people have no excuse not to help their Haitian neighbors because if they want to adopt a family, they will help them do that. If someone wants to adopt a child, he says they will help them do that. And any denomination from $20 to $2,000 is acceptable. And he says sponsors will know where their aid money goes because they will receive a call from the recipient to say they received it.
New Haitian Mission Baptist Church pastor, Rev. Cherelus Exante, who has an ongoing effort feeding, clothing and educating 50-plus orphans in an orphanage, says the concert people will be given the opportunity to partner with actual efforts now. And get the assistance they need to create initiatives of their own.
"Two years on, we are not here only to organize the concert, but to also give God thanks, and to thank the people of The Bahamas for standing with the Haitian people to help Haiti, so we continue to do work in Haiti and provide aid to Haitians," said Rev. Exante.

HELP HAITI
What: Haiti's Help Is Your Yes! concert
When: Friday, January 13
Where: Enoch Beckford Auditorium, Carmichael Road
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: Free, but donations, pledges and gift offerings will be accepted
Performers: Benedict Lamartine, Anna Calixte, Bishop Lawrence Rolle, Group D'Homme Emmanuel (Berean Baptist Church), Theogene Jean Louis (Cornerstone Church), Paul Hanna, Poem by Rosny Jean (Queen of Peace), Seventh-day Adventist men's group, Boys of God, and Mr. J (Gefner Dalmon).

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