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(Photo courtesy Embassy of Haiti)
The 2015 Opera Ball was held at the German ambassador’s residence.
economy (gross state product), according to
the report.
No public study along the same lines has
been undertaken since – an indication that
perhaps the city takes its diplomatic community
too much for granted.
In 2014, when the U.S. Treasury showed
the District’s GSP or gross state product had
grown to $113.3 billion, the number of foreign
missions had increased to 180, their collective
work-force to close to 11,000, and based on
available data a variety of financial experts
estimated that the payroll-plus-expenditure
numbers skyrocketed to $881.5 million.
A typical mission consists of a handful of
foreign diplomats plus a locally hired support
staff of U.S. citizens and non-American
permanent residents holding jobs like secretary
to the ambassador of Kuwait, commercial officer
in the French Embassy, press attaché in the
British Embassy, social secretary to the Spanish
ambassador, as well as cook, chauffeur, security
staff, translat or, and receptionist.
In 2001, according to the report, local
payrolls were $292.5 million. The report also
estimated that personal consumer spending by
employees in the District was $32.4 million –
Something surprising people don’t know about you?
I am very interested in design,
architecture
andArab
home
renovation.
The embassy
of the United
Emirates
at night.
Something
surprising
Americans don’t
know
about
country?
including $3.411 million on groceries.
Nonday celebrations
each
year
– your
Bastille
Day for
That Haiti has an abundance of tourist destinations.
payroll spending by foreign missions was the French, St. Patrick’s Day for the Irish, the
estimated at $257.7 million, of which
nearly
Birthday
Favorite
vacationQueen’s
spot in your
country?for the British, the Pope’s
Jeremie becausebirthday
it is homefor
andthe
is apapal
quiet, nuncio
peaceful-location.
40 percent was funneled to District-based
are a major
businesses.
prop of Washington’s catering trade, and the
Historical figure you most admire?
With at least one new embassyToussaint
residence
number
of former
chefs
who over
Louverture
because
against allembassy
odds he had
the political
acumen
or chancery built every year, notosector
of the
years independence.
have quit their jobs and gone into
set the stage
for Haiti’s
Washington business has benefited more business for themselves has been a factor in the
Washington social event you look forward to the most every year?
than the construction business. Some
notable quality leap of Washington restaurants. Also, it’s
Passport DC because I enjoy welcoming the general public to the embassy.
examples: the Spanish Embassy residence, estimated that the embassies receive hundreds
Howmillion,
do you like to
your
free time?
completed in 2004, at a cost of $10
of spend
official
visitors
from their respective home
Playing
and–when
I haveof
a free
moment
joining
the $80 million Swedish chancery
onwith
themy 1-year-old
countriesdaughter,
every year
a benefit
$361
million
a pickup soccer game.
Potomac at Georgetown Harbor in 2006, the in hotel revenue alone last year.
new Pakistani Embassy at $15 million,
the
There is, however, one revenue the
Languages
you speak?
French,
Creole
and
English.has
I also
learned
Spanishcollecting
while spending
time in
fortress-like Italian chancery. Then there is District
had
problems
from
Central America, but I don’t get to practice it very often.
the cluster of 17 new embassies built between diplomats for decades – parking tickets. From
1985 and 2014 at the InternationalDish
Chancery
time,
member
of home?
the media obtains
you miss thetime
mostto
when
youaare
away from
a Haitian
Center off Van Ness Street NW Legume,
on parcels
thevegetable
latest stew.
unpaid figures from the State
of land leased by the State Department. Department’s Diplomatic Motor Vehicles
Favorite Washington restaurant? Range.
Austria, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and Office using the Freedom of Information
Egypt were among the foreign missions
that andAct
Why
violations
need causes/
to
Ambassadors
their(FOI).
embassies
haveparking
a long tradition
of supporting
institutions
championed
by
the
Washington
community.
What
will
you
relocated there, and the resulting potpourri be kept secret is anybody’s guess, but in 2011, and
the embassy be involved with in the coming year? Step Afrika!, Roots of
of national styles gets mixed reactions.
Critics the radio station WTOP made headlines with
Development and the Smithsonian African Museum of Art.
have described the Center as “Embassy its revelation that foreign diplomats owed the
Acres” and “Disneyland for contemporary
Top issue on yourcity
agenda?
$340,000 in unpaid parking fees and
Strengthening Haiti’s
economic
withimmunity
the U.S. — to
enticing
architecture buffs.”
invoked
their relations
diplomatic
avoidmore
U.S. companies to come and do business in Haiti.
Embassy events, including over 100 national paying them.
@EmbassyOfHaiti
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