USA to Cancel Haiti's Debt, Call it an Act of Jubilee

by Albert Milliron | April 28, 2008 at 10:01 pm

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Amid Violence In Haiti, 13 N.J. Volunteers Arrive Home

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USA to Cancel Haiti's Debt, Call it an Act of Jubilee

While the Rev. Wright controversy remains in the Main Stream Media exclaiming how America's "Chickens have come home to Roost". Haiti's Debt will be Canceled. Kudos to Florida Democrat Alcee Hastings for Piloting this Amendment to show concern to this impoverished Country and it's People.

America has shown once again that it is concerned about the needs of nations who have nothing to give. Many folks forget that under the Bush Administration Aide to Africa has tripled compared to the Previous Administration.

The word Jubilee is a Jewish term that comes from the Hebrew Bible. Every 50 years all debts are Forgiven and those in indentured servitude are set free. Another Jubilent time is every 7 years when debts are forgiven as well. This is why, in American law, ones debts cannot be collected or appear on a credit report after 7 years.

Haiti Justice: Jubilee Act Passes House. On to Senate!
Hastings Amendment to the Jubilee Act Passes the House

The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed an amendment on April 16, 2008 authored by U.S. Representative Alcee L. Hastings (D-Miramar) calling for the cancellation of Haiti’s international debt. Representative Hastings offered his amendment to H.R. 2634, the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation of 2008. The bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to work with international financial institutions to provide debt cancellation to low-income countries.

The amendment authorizes U.S. Treasury to:

Expedite the cancellation of Haiti’s debts to the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and other multilateral financial institutions, and

Urge an immediate suspension of debt service payments from Haiti.

The UnitedStates' (US')House of Representatives has unanimously passed an amendment calling for thecancellation of Haiti'sinternational debt.

The legislation, piloted by FloridaDemocratic Congressman Alcee Hastings, directs the US Secretary of the Treasury towork with international financial institutions to provide debt cancellation tolow-income countries.

Congressman Hastings described the voteas an important initial step toward finally freeing the impoverished nationfrom its onerous debt.

Mr. Hastings is also in the vanguard inthe fight to end what he called "double-standard immigration practices asthey pertain to Haitian migrants".

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cynthia yoo

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 22:25 on April 28th, 2008

politisite, I like this story. It's good stuff.

gerrypopplestone

at 04:02 on April 29th, 2008

Yes it's good! But let's not forget that the commitment of the US government is way behind other governments. Thirtyfive years ago, govts in the West promised to give 0.7% of their Gross National Income. Recently the British govt has improved its giving and Europe is now committed to increase to the 0.7% by 2020. Yet the US is still at the bottom of all industrialised countries for its aid giving. (And the amount given by private individuals in the US is something like three times what the govt gives! Yes, the amount it gives is large, but as a percentage of Gross National Income, it is way, way behind the rest of the Industrialised World.

Gerrypops

Albert Milliron

at 09:58 on April 29th, 2008

You might want to lump what American individuals give as part of the whole package as we are a government of the people. I would like a bit more info on what you said. If you have a RE: I will look into it.

Mikasi

at 04:07 on April 29th, 2008

If this keeps up my governmental cynicism may actually crumple.

Thanks for the story.

Albert Milliron

at 10:01 on April 29th, 2008

Oh never quit being critical. Just know that you as an America have helpped the Haitian People. This story is so under reported because it just doesn't Make America look that bad.

gerrypopplestone

at 04:16 on April 29th, 2008

I should perhaps add that US aid currently runs at 0.17% of GNI, compared with an average for OECD countries of 0.35%. The US is currently 21st in the list of giving generosity! Ireland, Sweden, Spain and the UK are increasing their aid as a percentage of GNI. Ireland increased its giving in 2006 by 37%!

Us giving is currently 24 billion dollars, and the UK gives 11 billion dollars.

Gerrypops

Karen Hatter

at 05:50 on April 29th, 2008

Reverend Jeremiah Wright has stated that had anyone listened to the entire sermon, they would have heard that the 'chickens coming home to roost' statement was a statement attributed to the Iraqi ambassador.

Albert Milliron

at 09:50 on April 29th, 2008

Karen, According to Fox News, and after reviewing the interveiw of the Iqai Ambassador on Fox. Rev Wright took him out of context, how Ironic. He also never said, "the Chickens have come home to roost" Rev Wright wrongly attributed this to the Ambassador.

Karen Hatter

at 12:01 on April 29th, 2008

After reading Huffingtonpost.com, there seems to have been a misidentification of the speaker of the 'chickens roosting' quote, the remarks having been made by the former U.S. ambassador TO Iraq, Edward Peck, who served during the Carter administration. Did FOX News identify the correct source of the statement as well?

Albert Milliron

at 16:17 on April 29th, 2008

I really don't want to take away from the Haiti story, but yes, it is Peck. Rev. Wright did what he has complained that others have done. Peck never said, The chicken's have come home to roost" Wright paraphrased what he thought Peck was saying. peck, although, critical at times about America, questioned whether some of our actions could have brought on some of what has happened. Wright made it sound that Peck drew an absolute conclusion on the premisies he described. I think Barack Obama is credible and lives by a high standards. Fox identified the source and played the interview in full so folks could draw their own conclusions. It would have been nice if the Huffington Post would have done the same.