Dellums & Assocs., the firm of former Oakland Congressman
Ron Dellums, registered Dec. 30 as lobbyist and PR firm for
Haiti. The firm is to improve relations with the U.S. and
international lending associations.
D&A reported receiving two $30K retainers from Haiti.
D&A's registration reports that Qorvis Communications
would "participate in the preparation or dissemination
of informational materials" on behalf of Haiti. No budget
was set.
Qorvis CEO Michael Petruzzello told O'Dwyer's that his firm
is not involved with D&A's Haiti work though it has worked
with it in the past. Qorvis is the Patton Boggs affiliate
that represents Saudi Arabia.
Dellums could not be reached.
GMS backs Aristide
Global Market Solutions, which is based in Washington, D.C.,
is also rallying to the side of beleaguered Haitian president
Jean Bertrand Aristide as rebels have rampaged in more than
10 cities, killing 42 people in their bid to seize power.
Aristide faces
violent opposition
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The United Nations this week warned of an impending humanitarian
crisis, and urged both sides to end the violence. The State
Dept., on Feb. 9, condemned the violence, blaming it on armed
thugs on both sides. The U.S. is backing the efforts of the
Organization of American States, Caribbean Community and the
Roman Catholic Church to negotiate a peaceful end to the crisis.
GMS has promoted Aristide's willingness to talk with the
rebels and commitment to democracy. Aristide has made it plain
that he plans to complete his second term in office that ends
in `06. Opposition leaders say Aristide must go.
Aristide was elected Haiti's first democratically elected
president in `90. He was ousted by the military in `91, and
restored to power following the U.S. invasion in `94.
Haiti has lost millions in foreign aid because donors believe
the `00 election was rigged in favor of Aristide's supporters.
The average Haitian lives on less than $1 a day, and the U.N.
has determined that 3.8M of its people half the population
"are unable to secure their minimum food requirements."
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