A more useful Haiti article: Haiti at a turning point

[Judi Lynn]

Haiti at a turning point
Source: Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

Date: 09 Apr 2009


No nation in the Americas faces development difficulties on the scale of Haiti's challenges. Last year, as it was making progress on its reconstruction efforts, the country was assailed by spikes in food and fuel prices and four devastating storms. This year, due to the global economic crisis, it is likely to see a decline in investments and remittances from expatriates, a lifeline for countless Haitian households.

Despite these adversities, there is cause for optimism. On Tuesday, April 14 the Haitian government will present an economic recovery plan to a donors meeting hosted by the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, D.C., seeking to focus the international community's support on key areas of their two-year program. One of its chief goals is to generate tens of thousands of jobs.

The IDB is ready to help Haiti at this turning point. Its large portfolio of operations reflects top Haitian priorities: rebuilding its transportation system, expanding access to basic public services, boosting agricultural output and strengthening the public sector's finances and government agencies. This year the Bank is doubling the volume of grants for Haiti to $100 million. Next year it expects to be able to do even more.

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/KHII-7R35GT?OpenDocument
(Does anyone know how much on the level this is? Haiti could use help, rather than more abuse.)

[magbana]

1. Unfortunately, while playing nice now, the IDB was one of the major culprits

in 2000 responding to the US demand that NO international financial institutions (IFI) lend money to Haiti. Between 2000 and 2004, NO IFI money went to Haiti. Of course, this ban on lending was purposely put in place by the US,France, and Canada to destabilize Haiti's economy and, ultimately, overthrow Aristide. From 2000-2004, despite lack of international funds and persistent poverty, Aristide made improvements in education, public facilities, nutrition, etc.

Throughout most of Haiti's past, US manipulation of internal politics has kept the country in a rolling hell. Papa Doc Duvalier was maintained in office by the US to keep an eye on budding communist movements in the Caribbean and report back. To keep Duvalier happy, the US orchestrated the granting of a ridiculous amount of loans to Haiti with little or no accountability. Meanwhile, the Ton Ton Macoutes were keeping the coountry in line byterrorizing the population. A large part of Haiti's debt burden today is from making payments on loans made to Duvalier 50 years ago!

This article portrays IDB as a benevolent banker. Like IMF and others, IDB offers loans but nary a word about debt relief. Haiti is drowning in debt. As Aristide made social improvements between 2000-2004: literacy and doubling of the minimum wage (which is still less than a $1 an hour), the US and Haitian elites saw trouble ahead. The last thing they wanted was a better educated and better paid workforce. So the US collaborated with the Haitian elite in the 2004 coup. Now, Haitans are exactly where the US wants it: poor, uneducated, and so desperate that they work for slave wages and can expect a life expectancy in the mid-30's. Haiti's proximity to the US is its curse. If the sweatshops are not cost-effective,that is,pay more than slave wages, the manufacturers will be limited to setting up shop in other slave wage operations - southeast Asia -- but the transportation cost is completely prohibitive. Haiti, at 700 miles off the US coast, is the ideal spot that must be preserved at all costs.

Just like loan sharking to desperate people, so are the IFI loans. It may take care of an initial need but there is hell to pay later.

What Haiti needs is the return of President Aristide,the only president that has given a damn about the people,freedom from attack by the Haitian National Police and UN Peacekeepers,continued social program improvement, and all the technical assistance they can get from Cuba and Venezuela from agriculture to engineering to health care. AND, if Haiti needs money, Venezuela is the place to go. Chavez' commitment to Haiti is strong because of the help the country gave Bolivar years ago.

[Bacchus39]

2. well, why don't Cuba and Venezuela step up then???

I suspect Haiti will be a ward of the international community for some time to come.

[magbana]

3. They already have. Venezuela has worked a generous deal with Haiti

through PetroCaribe and, as I am sure you know, Cuba is helping tremendously with literacy programs and is the primary health care provider in Haiti.

Haiti,a ward of the international community? Perhaps, punching bag, is more like it.

But, I wouldn't count out the "wards" just yet. They are the sons and daughters of Dessalines. The French know well what this means.

[Bacchus39]

4. sounds like Haiti will be just fine then with all that support from Cuba and Venezuela

no reason for the US to do much then.

[Idealism]

5. You really are a cold-hearted bastard

The richest country in the world should leave it up to everybody else to help the poor?

[Bacchus39]

6. see post #1, sounds like someone else doesn't believe the US

should be doing anything about Haiti. Cuba and Venezuela were the recommended sources of assistance.

[Idealism]

7. The IBD is not a US bank.

The US does not solely control this entity, nor provide for all the financing (although it does provide a nice share, it does not outweigh S. American contributions and thus voting share).

[Bacchus39]

8. yes, I know but my point was simply to take magbana up on the offer

for technical and financial assistance Cuba and Venezuela are the places to go. and magbana criticized the IDB in her post.

[Idealism]

9. The IBD deserves to be criticized, as do the World Bank and IMF

There policies have done little good for the common folk in countries they lend to, while benefiting those who already have more money than they know what to do with.

[Bacchus39]

10. fine, no-one is above criticism. pssst..... even Castro and Chavez

but I am not going to argue the merits of the WB or IMB or IDB.

if Cuba and Venezuela can supply Haiti with the resources it needs then well, why not give it a try?

[Idealism]

11. Of course, but the criticism should be based in reality.

There are hundreds of studies done about the harm the aforementioned international organizations inflicted upon countries they intervened in. The two you named? Not so much...

I don't mind another country helping Haiti, but the US still has an obligation to aid the Haitian people in any way they can, given our past with that country.

[Bacchus39]

12. and I don't disagree

and its quite likely the US will continue to provide assistance.

however, I am more than willing to hear and try other alternatives such as that suggested by magbana. Not up to me though, and your assessment is more likely the course the US will take. and yes, Ven and Cuba can still help too!!!!