BY SAUNDRA AMRHEIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Two strong women, both first ladies, will meet today to forge a joint plan to rebuild this Central American country ripped apart by Hurricane Mitch.
On the eve of her meeting with Hillary Rodham Clinton, Honduran first lady Mary Flores, a graduate of Colerain High School (where her maiden name was Mary Flake) talked Sunday about what her country needs from Mrs. Clinton, who visits todayduring a tour of Central America.
Mrs. Flores said she earlier wrote a personal letter to Mrs. Clinton, asking for more U.S. military personnel and Army Corps of Engineers personnel to help rebuild.
Since the U.S. already has a presence at the Soto Cano Air Force Base about 80 miles northwest of the capital, more engineers working from there could help rebuild the more than 80 bridges destroyed in Honduras.
She said without a transportation system, it is nearly impossible for people to get back to work and children back to school.
"I think my husband (President Carlos Flores Facusse) will talk to her more about getting a jump-start in rebuilding the economy," she said.
She said she is confident that Chiquita Brands International will not bail out of her country altogether, and while thankful for the company's generosity during this crisis, Mrs. Flores said it's also important that Chiquita try to keep its employees working.
"We hope they (Chiquita) can help us get them jobs so they (workers) won't leave," she said.
"It's wonderful they are offering all their containers and help, but people need to be employed," she said.
Chiquita has said it will need to lay off 7,000 workers after the hurricane damaged its banana crop, though reduced wages will be paid for some time.
Mrs. Flores was born in Tennessee, moved to the Cincinnati area when her father, a Procter & Gamble Co. engineer, was transferred, and graduated from Colerain High School in 1967. She attended the University of Tennessee, later transferring to Louisiana State University, where she met her future husband.
Mrs. Flores had some final words for her old hometown: "I thank Cincinnati for being so kind and taking us into their hearts. I hope to come back and thank them personally."
