As her mission comes to an end, the outgoing Colombian ambassador to Haiti, Vilma Rocío Velásquez Uribe, addresses the Haitian people in an open letter. Le Nouvelliste publishes the entirety of this letter in which Mrs. Uribe expressed her "deep gratitude" towards Haiti.<\/p>

Port-au-Prince, November 9, 2026<\/p>

Dear and courageous Haitian people,<\/p>

Today, November 8, I leave Haitian territory and thus conclude my mission as Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia to the Republic of Haiti. Before I depart, I wish to address you to express my deep gratitude towards this great nation, mother and father of freedom, which opened its doors to me and granted me the honor of serving its people.<\/p>

My mission has not been easy. I arrived alone, without material resources or a work team, with a clear instruction from the progressive government of President Gustavo Petro: to open the diplomatic representation of Colombia in Haiti and to contribute to the restoration of a relationship that had remained interrupted since 2002, following the closure of our embassy.<\/p>

I accepted this responsibility under difficult conditions because I knew Haiti. I knew its history, its greatness, and, above all, the importance that the restoration of a relationship, which should never have been lost, represented for our two peoples. I also knew that Haiti deserved the presence of Colombia, not only because of our common history but also due to the fundamental place it occupies in building liberty and dignity in Latin America and the Caribbean.<\/p>

I want to thank the Haitian people for their extraordinary welcome. Over these three years, I never encountered a closed door with institutions, ministries, authorities, or individuals with whom I had the privilege to work. On the contrary, I found generosity, availability, and affection. We have always been welcomed with warmth. This hospitality will forever be etched in my memory.<\/p>

These years have allowed me to discover Haiti from a different perspective. I already knew the country through its mountains, along those paths where one discovers its deepest reality: the poverty that afflicts so many families, the children who lose their teeth by the age of ten, the people whose lives end far too soon. But I also knew the generosity of its land: those mango seasons when fruits cover the fields like a vast carpet of yellow, orange, and red colors. An image of abundance and beauty that I will never forget.<\/p>

I have now had the privilege, but also the responsibility, of discovering Haiti from Port-au-Prince, through a diplomatic mission. During these years, I have followed daily the evolution of the conflict, the displacements of the population, the expansion of armed groups that terrorize so many communities, as well as the considerable and difficult efforts of those who work to restore control and tranquility in the country. I have been a witness to a painful reality, a fragmented territory, and a population that, despite everything, does not give up on its future.<\/p>

It has been an honor to work for Haiti and with Haiti. Every face, every meeting, every conversation, and every friendship built over these three years will remain with me. Often, I have been told that I am Haitian. I receive these words as one of the most beautiful marks of recognition one can offer me.<\/p>

Neither the difficult circumstances nor the situations of persecution I faced have been able to dampen my commitment or the work I came to accomplish for Haiti. I have taken on my responsibilities, and I fully trust my lawyers to establish the truth and obtain justice. My conscience is at peace, and my attachment to this people remains intact.<\/p>

I carry with me the kreyòl ayisyen, this wonderful language that I have learned with affection and of which I am deeply proud. I also carry with me this immense thirst for knowledge that drives the Haitian people, their curiosity, their capacity for creation, and their desire to find opportunities for growth.<\/p>

I am honored to have worked with Haitian institutions and actors, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship (MAEC), as well as with the Ministries of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MARNDR), Defense (MD), and National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP), and with so many people committed to the development of their country.<\/p>

I also hold on to memories of companies and entrepreneurial initiatives that represent the Haiti of tomorrow: AYITIKA, MET FEY VET, KAFE LUX and so many other initiatives that demonstrate that this country has talent, creativity, entrepreneurial capabilities, and a deep will to build.<\/p>

I carry with me the beauty of Haiti. And I do not only speak of its geography, which I consider exceptional, of its mountains, its coasts, and its sea. I also speak of its culture, of that authenticity that makes this country a unique place. Its artistic richness is present everywhere: in its constructions, in the beautiful gates of Delmas and so many other neighborhoods, in the aesthetics of its walls, in the colors, shapes, and details of its architecture. Haiti has an extraordinary visual and cultural identity, an artistic expression that deserves to be recognized and protected.<\/p>

I also carry with me its morning sun. Not only as a bright memory but also as the awareness of the immense wealth it represents for a country. In times of scarcity, the light, warmth, and energy of this territory constitute considerable resources. I carry its flavors, the freshness of its fruits freshly picked from the mountains, its scents, and the generosity of a land that has so much to offer.<\/p>

Courageous Haitian people,<\/p>

I am leaving, but I am not taking leave of Haiti.<\/p>

I carry with me your courage, your dignity, and your strength as examples to pursue my own path. Wherever I am, I will continue to work and to provide support, to the best of my ability, to the efforts aimed at allowing Haiti to regain its health, tranquility, wealth, and the place that rightfully belongs to it in the world.<\/p>

I am convinced that Haiti is destined to become a power in the Caribbean. Its geographical position, land, sun, sea, history, and, above all, its people offer it extraordinary conditions to build this future. It has one of the most significant youth populations in Latin America and the Caribbean: a vibrant, curious, creative youth, driven by an immense desire to learn and to find opportunities to transform their lives and their country.<\/p>

There is in Haiti a thirst for knowledge that constitutes one of its greatest riches. We must believe in this youth, invest in them, and work together to make this thirst for knowledge the foundation of a prosperous future. Haitian youth do not need others to imagine their future for them; they need opportunities, tools, and conditions that allow them to build it with their own hands.<\/p>

Haiti has all the necessary elements to be reborn. It has a history that no one can erase, a culture that the whole world must admire, and a people whose dignity has resisted the unimaginable. It also has a position in the Caribbean that allows it to look to the future with extraordinary possibilities.<\/p>

As President Gustavo Petro expressed, renaissance is in the Caribbean. I deeply believe in this statement. And I believe that Haiti must occupy a central place in this renaissance.<\/p>

Thank you, Haiti, for welcoming me. Thank you for allowing me to serve you. Thank you for teaching me so much, through your landscapes, your flavors, your language, your culture, and, above all, your people.<\/p>

I carry a part of Haiti with me to Colombia, and I leave a part of myself here.<\/p>

With my deep respect, admiration, and all my affection,<\/p>