Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones Leads Delegation to Haiti to Deliver Solid Waste Trucks and Hurricane Emergency Kits

MIAMI – City of Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones will lead a delegation to Haiti on August 19-21, to present donated surplus trucks and equipment to the City of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The 15 member delegation, which consists of leaders in the public, private and non-profit sectors, will depart from Miami International Airport on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 6:45a.m. on American Airlines.

The delivery of the trucks to Port-au-Prince could not come at a better time, with several hurricanes and storms brewing in the Atlantic. The Delegation will travel to Haiti to present the City of Port-au-Prince with the donated equipment and supplies as well as provide hurricane emergency care kits.

The donated trucks and supplies are part of an educational campaign called “Leve! An Nou Kimbe Potoprens Pwop !” (Wake Up! Let’s Keep Port-au-Prince Clean) in partnership with the City of Miami’s Sister City in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and the Mayor’s International Council.

The initiative will assist Port-au-Prince in the operations of an efficient and environment friendly solid waste system. And provide training to the City’s Solid Waste Department that focuses on operations, administration and maintenance.

“The overall objective of the campaign is to assist and educate residents in Port-au-Prince on how to keep the environment clean; said Commissioner Spence-Jones “It also provides training that will prepare them should another disaster strike Haiti.”

The trip will also include the establishment of an art and cultural exchange partnership between Port-au-Prince and the City of Miami.