PRESS RELEASE: “Kenneth Cole has opened a boutique in Haiti that the designer says will bring commercial and humanitarian benefit to the poor Caribbean country.” REALLY??
The first line of the press release sounds as if designer Kenneth Cole has the key to saving “the poor Caribbean country”. I am sick and tired of press, media, and television reports that continually portray Haiti as a poor, helpless, country. Now, arguably Haiti’s economy has been distressed for some time and particularly post the 2010 Earthquake that left hundreds of thousands dead and as many homeless and/or maimed. However, Haiti is anything but “poor”. She is the first liberated black country in the Western Hemisphere and has a proud and RICH culture. Let’s be clear, the reason Kenneth Cole and other companies are investing in Haiti isn’t because Haiti is poor, its because they expect a return on their investment!
Don’t get me wrong, kudos to Kenneth Cole. Afterall, a portion of profits from the sale of clothing and accessories will benefit the Kenneth Cole Haiti Health Center in Cite Soleil. According to a company statement, the center is “providing medical care to hundreds of thousands of people in the metropolitan area.” That being said, Kenneth Cole certainly recognizes Haiti’s economic growth prospects and thus joined the “let’s make money in Haiti band wagon”. This isn’t just a one way street where Haiti and Haitians benefit. Kenneth Cole, just like all the other investors in Haiti, will benefit too!
Given the economic benefits for Kenneth Cole in Haiti, I hope their next press release won’t start out with the words “poor Caribbean country”.
Haiti stand up!
