PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti. – Dr. Ruben Silie Valdez, the new Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Haiti, presented on March 4th, 2009 his diplomatic credentials to Haitian President Rene Preval who manifested “happiness” on Silie’s appointment. Ulrick Gaillard, BRA’s CEO added, “Ruben is a dear friend and a man of great character who has devoted years of his life to help the two countries address bilateral issues through mutual respect and understanding and confraternity.”

Silie joined the Batey Relief Alliance’s board of directors in 2001 where he played an important role engaging various sectors of the Dominican mainstream society in the work of the organization inside impoverished and vulnerable communities, including the bateyes. BRA is now expanding its humanitarian effort into border regions of Haiti where, as in the bateyes, socio-economic isolation has forced the populations to live in extreme poverty and under harsh conditions.

BRA honored Silie last year with a lifetime achievement award—“Assessor Ad Vitam” for his work in the fields of education, migration and diplomacy.