News
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| 15/8/06 |
Bwa Kayiman 2006-The Day So Ann was Liberated! | RFK Memorial Takes Treasury Department to Court to Determine US Role in Denying Loans Vital to Haiti's Perilous Public Health | The Fleecing of Haiti: Haiti’s native son, Harry Fouche, gives details, facts and figures and notes revelations made by Senator Bastien, Fortune, Beazile and Deputy Coffy and Astrel and others from Haiti’s new parliament. Mr. Fouche further points out that the Latortue/and coup d’etat’s folks were grandstanding with the Miami suit against Aristide, Says that suit would have been dismissed for lack of jurisdiction and evidence. But, a suit filed AGAINST Alexander/Latortue/Henri Bazin in Miami Federal court would find a proper venue as “all their assets and proceeds of the crimes committed in and against Haiti are indeed in Miami.” |
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Date: 15 August 2006 07:27:39 BDT ******************e-mails in this posts*********** – August 14, 2006/Bwa Kayiman 2006 – The Day So Ann Was Liberated – RFK Memorial Takes Treasury Department to Court to Determine US Role in Denying Loans Vital to Haiti?s Perilous Public Health | Department of Treasury Has Stonewalled for Three Years – The Fleecing of Haiti: – The International Aid Debacle: How to Get a Return on the Investment in Haiti – HLLL reference links refuting SATANley Lucas’ assertions Bwa Kayiman 2006 – The Day So Ann Was Liberated The artist in me wonders Is this a cosmic message or simple coincidence? Today, we were the first to report So Ann’s release because we bowed down to the magic of today in Haitian history. By chance, HLLN was in the right place, at the right time in Haiti and understood So Ann’s release would come today and released the info even before many close to her knew it was imminent. Our meditations and prayers have been answered and we are humbled. Hurray! “Ezili ohh, Ezili sa a…si pa te Bondye nou tout ta neye…!!! That’s Sò Ann’s song, blasting from the stereo as I write this piece. Check out her CD. Yeah, yeah yeah! For some unkown reason, I played that Ezili cut on Sò Ann’s CD all this Bwa Kayiman weekend… for every HLLN/Ezili Dantò interview and presentation!. Then, lo and behold, we get the miracle. Lo and behold, August 14, 2006 on Ezili Dantò day, our beloved So Ann is released. I am a poet who hasn’t been able to write anything remotely poetic since this darn coup d’etat started. Now I am beginning to feel something writing itself, begining to feel imaginative again. Thank you Ezili! Thank you Sò Ann! By now you all know August 14, 1791 began the Haitian Revolution at Bwa Kayiman, right! That Sò Ann is released, after 27-months in prison, on August 14, 2006 couldn’t be of any greater significance. The liberated female energy that began the Haitian revolution was not contained this August 14, 2006! Chapo ba So Ann, chapo ba fanm lakay-nou, fanm zantray nou. Nou salye Mamman Ayiti. San ou se san nou. Chèn sa pap janm kase! Sa se vre. PS. I apologize in advance. I may not be able to stop myself making all sorts of associations. Either way, you all know you may just NEVER hear the last of this from me. Yeah! On the sacred day of August 14, 2006, an innocent Haitian artist, a well known folksinger, a revered grandmother, is home with her children and family after 27 months of illegal and tortuous imprisonment. It’s not justice. No. This is a long way from justice. But it’s progress we didn’t have yesterday. It’s progress I’m feeling deep in my soul. Thank you to all of you who have hung in there pushing for So Ann’s release all this time. Thank you so very much. Ezili Danto See: Chèn sa pap janm kase!: Ezili Dantò Performance ritual ending the Bwa ****************************************** www.rfkmemorial.org/ Jeffrey Buchanan, RFK Memorial (202) 463-7575 ext 241 RFK Memorial Takes Treasury Department to Court to Determine US Role in Denying Loans Vital to Haiti?s Perilous Public Health Department of Treasury Has Stonewalled for Three Years WASHINGTON (Aug 15, 2006) — The Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights asked a federal court today to order the U.S. Treasury Department to reveal records of its role in suspending loans destined for vital public health projects in Haiti. The RFK Center filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request almost three years ago seeking correspondence and documents related to Treasury?s intervention with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on infrastructure loans to Haiti. After Treasury?s intervention, the IDB made an unprecedented about-face, and refused to disburse loans previously approved for Haiti in 2001. Despite repeated requests and modifications of RFK Center?s FOIA request, the Treasury Department has not provided a single document in three years. In July 1998, the IDB approved $145.9 million in loans to Haiti. The money was intended to improve water, sanitation, health, rural roads, and education in Haiti with payment to begin in 2001. However, on April 6, 2001, US Executive Director to the IDB Lawrence Harrington sent a letter to IDB President Enrique V. Iglesias requesting that the loans not be disbursed, leading to the loans? halt. The U.S. Executive Director reports directly to the Treasury Department. Due to the IDB?s unprecedented actions, all too many Haitians have died or become ill due to the lack of potable water and inadequate healthcare. In particular, women and children have suffered high incidences of death and illness from waterborne diseases. Today’s motion was filed at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. “The American public has a right to know what role its government is playing behind closed doors,” said Monika Kalra Varma, Acting Director at the RFK Center. “The denial of these loans directly violates Haitians? human rights, leaving them to suffer significant human casualties. If the U.S. blocked these life-saving loans to influence Haiti?s internal politics, it would be an unconscionable act to which no American would want to attach their nation?s good name.? Varma continued to insist, ?As international financial institutions and donor nations begin publicizing plans to reinvest in Haiti, this information must be made public so that such a destructive and perverse reversal does not happen again.? The Freedom of Information Act celebrated its 40th anniversary this past July 4th. Many critics, including former President Jimmy Carter, have begun expressing concerns about the Bush Administration?s neglect to fulfill FOIA requests in a timely manner and its increased tendency to withhold information. The watchdog coalition OpenTheGovernment.org credited the Bush Administration with creating 81% more “secrets?, defined as unclassified materials withheld from the public, in 2005 than in 2000. FOIA states that federal agencies should share documents within 20 working days. According to the National Security Archives 2003 report, many agencies during the Bush Administration have been in violation of the law with average response times as long as 1,113 working days. RFK is a non-profit non-governmental organization that engages in long-term partnerships with activists who win the RFK Human Rights Award, advocating for the social justice goals they champion. RFK?s Haitian laureate, Loune Viaud, Director of Strategic Planning and Operations of Zanmi Lasante, the largest socio-medical complex in the Central Plateau of Haiti, advocates for the realization of the right to health for all Haitians. The RFK Center is represented in this case by the Washington, D.C. law firm of Garvey Schubert Barer. ********************************************** HLLN recommended Link: Harry Fouche Weighs In On August 11, 2006, briefly reponding and dismissing an article, dated August 10, 2006, written by Stanley Lucas entitled “The International Aid Debacle: How to Get a Return on the Investment in Haiti” HLLN sent out an e-mail post to a few active members of our Network which carried the Lucas article, pointing in the subject line to Mr. Stanley Lucas’ incredible nerve. Saying, in effect: “So where was Lucas when Latortue and the Technocrats were pillaging $965,000 these last coup d’etat years?????” and that Mr. Lucas has no credibility whatsoever to speak about the Preval government’s use of foreign aid monies or give advise that would be taken seriously on The International Aid Debacle: How to Get a Return on the Investment in Haiti.” Responding to Ezili Danto/HLLN’s post of the Lucas article on “The International Aid Debacle!,” Mr. Harry Fouche concurred with Ezili Danto/HLLN while outlining, in his comments, how Haiti was fleeced to the tune of $2 billion during the Alexandre/Latortue regime change. The honorable Harry Fouche is a respected economist, the former legitimate Consul General of the Haitian government in New York and the current Chairperson of the Consortium for Haitian Empowerment representing Haitians in the Diaspora. (For a more extensive bio, go to; Harry Fouche, CHE Chairman www.haitianconsortium.org/fouche.htm ) See Mr. Fouche’s comments, brought to you below, by HLLN. In a response initially triggered by the Stanley Lucas article, Haiti’s native son, Harry Fouche, weighs in on the fleecing of Haiti. Says Latortue/and coup d’etat’s folks were grandstanding with the Miami suit against Aristide and that that suit would have been dismissed for lack of jurisdiction and evidence. But, a suit filed against Alexander/Latortue/Henri Bazin in Miami Federal court would find a proper venue as “all their assets and proceeds of the crimes committed in and against Haiti are indeed in Miami.” HLLN believes the exchange below is an important to the Haitian dialogue, to HLLN “The Fleecing of Haiti: Expose the lies” campaigns and urges more Haitians to weigh in with similarly-backed and documented evidence as Mr. Fouche and Mr. Serge Serge Pierre, whose comments, tenor and comportment in this discussion are a clear leap above the coup d?etat lies, facile arguments, oversimplifications, politically-motivated exaggerations vilification’s, bitter hatreds, unbalanced and unsubstantiated claims and plain reckless SATANley Lucas-sort of pronouncements. (See, Stanley Lucas’ “Haiti’s Hopeless” www.margueritelaurent.com/campaigns/campaignone/testimonies/orelapril22.html#lucas8_2_06 , and Stanley Lucas/Washington Democracy Project -Continued Kidnappings in Haiti: *** Ezili Danto, Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2006 14:22:53 -0700 (PDT) Serge My response is in 2 parts. The first half deals with the issue of Action and Inaction of the Preval Administration as you perceived it, and the issue of the Diversion of Public Funds by Latortue et al. In the second half, I deal with the issue of the Aristide Law Suit Dismissal. By way of frame of reference, the issue is whether foreign aid has been a “debacle”, I am arguing given the Latortue experience and the inability to account for $964 million dollars of foreign aid, that indeed it is more than a “debacle”, it is grand larceny on an unimaginable scale. At the outset, let me say that all the recommendations you cited are urgent priorities just like everything else in Haiti is urgent nowadays. Do you agree though, that the Haitian Parliament has a partition to play? I think we ought to encourage it along the way. When a baby is taking its first steps you encourage it even though, he may stumble, even though he may be uncertain and uneasy. In light of this, when we speak of the Haitian government we must be careful not to refer to just the Preval/Alexis Administration, but must also include Parliament (The Chamber of Deputies and the Senate) for these bodies must play their role of giving advice and consent in the managing of the affairs of State. The third leg of government,the Judiciary, must also be included despite it comatose state. What are we saying here, with due process as a compass, steps should be taken to return indictments against officials of the Alexandre/Latortue Administration and litigation should commence to recoup the stolen $964 Million dollars in public funds. Subsequently, appropriate punishment must be imposed on those responsible for this looting of the country’s Treasury through: 1) misappropriation, Yes, actions must be taken by the Preval/Alexis Administration to place its own team in place. As we reach the 90 days mark of the Preval/Alexis Administration, coincidentally, nearly 90% of the Alexandre/Latortue Administration is still in place. Obviously, and one would expect this, without any loyalty to the new Preval Administration. Thus the Preval/Alexis Administration must move to install its team and then must be clear in enunciating the policies to be implemented in Haiti today. The spectacular cases of embezzlement, being uncovered, begged to happen since the hold-overs from the Latortue group feel that they can get away with as much as possible before they are removed from office. We must not be distracted, for what is at stake is what happened to $964 Million dollars entrusted to Alexandre/Latortue/Henri Bazin et al on behalf of the Haitian people. This is the equivalent of $1,320,547 dollars spent each day of the 730 days (2 years) Latortue and his entourage spent in Haiti. As a reminder the UN stated that it spent $500 million for their operations in Haiti, most of the money was used to pay foreign soldiers and policemen and expatriates nationals, consequently this money did not stay very long in Haiti, but rather went to Nepal, Jordan, the Philippines, Brazil, China, Canada, France, the United States etc as remittances by UN employees. The US for its part through its USAID said it spent $550 Million in Haiti. In total these 3 sources of allocated and spent funds in Haiti during the Period March1, 2004 and May 14, 2006 amounted to: United Nations = $500,000,000 Total outlay to Haiti = $2,014,000,000 There is a theory in Economics about the Multiplier Effect of a dollar spent in an economy whereby extra spending must give rise to a series of further income and expenditures since a dollar spent is turned over several times. In our case here, the impact of the $2 Billion spent between March 2004 and May 2006 in Haiti is astonishingly negligible, leading indeed to the conclusion that the money may have never never seen the light in Haiti due to diversion, embezzlement, or bulk remittances on the part of foreign workers both soldiers and civilians based in Haiti. Someone once said a fish begins to rot at the head, so if Latortue has a rapt sheet as long as he does, one should not be surprised to hear of his collaborators being involved in untoward activities. Now the matter of the Law Suit With regards to the law suit against former President Aristide, Latortue and his squad knew full well that the Miami court would not have jurisdiction in the matter. They went ahead anyway for publicity and grand standing. The Law Suit was a rewrite of the Report of the Commission d’Investigation of Latortue headed by Paul Denis a former ally turned political enemy and vitriolic critic of Aristide. Winston and Strawn, the firm hired by Latortue, took the litany of charges brought by the Paul Denis Commission already out in the public domain for purposes of creating a climate of uneasiness in the population, and used the same language in their Miami Law Suit. If Latortue and his buffoons were remotely on to something, the thing to do would have been to turn their findings over to constituted institutions in Haiti, such as the Courts (even though you and I know they are in shamble) or the Cour Superieure des Comptes (what happened to this one). So Latortue in by-passing these institutions intended only to create a three ring circus and a politically charged atmosphere in the country with his so-called Commission d’Investigation. The Paul Denis Commission for all practical purposes became: judge, jury, prosecutors, and executioners in the matter. The Miami law suit was seen as just a continuation of an orchestrated campaign devoid of merits. It would have failed, per these other adverse factors against it: 1) The defendant did not live in Miami 2) The defendant does not have any tangible assets in Miami. 3) The alleged crime did not occur in Miami 4) When one reads the filing, one is hard press to figure out what Defendant was being sued for: Despite its nebulousness and vagueness, at times the LAW demands clarity and specificity, so for all these considerations, the Miami court would have had, on response of defendant, no choice but to dismiss this suit for NAUGHT ESTEEM. Do you think or doubt for one minute, if the US Administration had anything on Aristide, the US would have taken him half way around the world on February 29, 2004? Or would he not have been brought right here to the US, where an indictment would have been returned against him? Now why was the suit brought up? 1) Former President Aristide had filed his own lawsuit in April of 2004, a month after his departure from Haiti. A law suit filed in France and in the US charging: THREATS, DEATH THREATS, ABDUCTION, AND ILLEGAL DETENTION. Unnamed Officials of France and the US to be revealed in court were the defendants. Two lawyers entrusted with the litigation were Gilbert Collard in Paris and Ira Kurzban in Miami. 2)Latortue and his group thought they could capitalize on the US ill feelings against Aristide and the clear policy of regime change seemingly waged in Haiti. So Latortue and consorts hired a law firm, not to respond to the Aristide law suit but to file a hasty law suit of their own. The law firm retained by Latortue and his band is a Chicago Law firm, top in its class called Winston and Strawn. With the usual buffoonery that characterized Latortue, he made promises to the law firm that he could not keep (since he was paying him-self over $1 Million dollars in per diem alone). So promises of large advance payment to the firm never took place. When these payments did not materialize, the firm stopped any action on the impeding litigation (after all, loyalty is where the fee is). When the new Haitian government took office, the inherited “dossier” was looked at, the first thing that came up was the issue of outstanding payments to the Chicago law firm. The suit was properly dropped for lack of jurisdiction and venue, and improper procedure on the part of Latortue and his cronies. Lest you forget this is the same Latortue who went on the BBC and Haitian Television and Radio and announced to the world that the Ile de la Tortue during the time of hurricane Jeanne had submerged to use his words in French “l’ile est engloutie et a disparue.” I guess he is now “englouti and disparu” until dragged into court for his corruption and embezzlement of Haiti’s public funds. In conclusion, the language of the law suit brought by Winston and Strawn in Miami can be rearranged and a new suit to be litigated both in Haiti and in Miami should be filed against Alexandre/Latortue/Henri Bazin et al. This time, Miami Federal Court would be a proper venue, for Latortue and his collaborators live in Miami and all their assets and proceeds of the crimes committed in and against Haiti are indeed in Miami. Take care Harry Fouche --- Serge Pierre-Pierre <…mail.com> Dear Harry, Do you really think the Préval/Alexis administration will care or have the honesty, the determination and the courage to DEMAND answers for the gachis that took place under the shame full administration of the tandem Boniface Alexandre/Gérard Latortue? We don’t think so because of the way the current government quickly decided to go ahead and dismiss the suit instituted against former president Aristide by Alexandre/Latortue and perhaps solely on the basis of partisan politics. We feel President Préval and Prime Minister Jacques Édouard Alexis are going to do business as usual and worry about their own problems which are numerous. We, concerned Haitian citizens, are still waiting for the Préval/Alexis administration to ; 1) Tackle urgently the border problems. Haiti needs to construct MODERN IMMIGRATION FACILITIES along the common borders with the Dominican Republic, at least opposite those that exist on the Dominican side. During a recent trip undertaken by a commission Sénatoriale made up Senateurs Beauzile, Compère, Cassis, Jacques to investigate certain border issues, the Commission estimated that in the border areas of Belladère and Anse—Pitre, the Haitian government could, if it had the proper installations, increase its revenues considerably. However, they pointed out that there should be a solid police presence estimated at about 200 CIMO, SWAT and INTELLIGENCE officers.; 2) Set up immediately an ANTI-SMUGGLING TEAM of experienced civilians bolstered by an adequate Police Force to enforce and protect Haitian territories; 3) Cost Guard Patrol Teams and boats to thwart contraband and drug-trafficking. We do not see any one in this administration competent enough to tackle those most pressing issues. “Nous sommes réellement à la merci du bon Dieu”! Anyway, all indications seem to suggest that this new administration does not measure up to the task at hand. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope for a happy outcome if they will ever be one! Don’t we all feel honestly like CRYING, CRYING for the fate of Haiti? Serge Pierre-Pierre *** Mr. Fouche, may Ezili’s HLLN use this piece to send to the Network, press, Haitian radio, and the Internationals? Or, you can send us a better version. Either way, HLLN wants it, even as is. Good info Mr. Fouche. Nice details and facts that must be followed up on as the US-Canada-France DEBACLE, brought on by (yeah good title, feelin’ ya!) SATANley Lucas to Haiti is brought to greater light. fouche harry <…> wrote: Members of the Forum Thank you Ms Danto and to you Ms Mayas for bringing this article penned by Satanley Lucas titled “ International Aid Debacle” By the way Stanley Lucas has no standing to talk about AID DEBACLE. For he was on the receiving end of development fund diverted for political purposes, more on this in another post. If it flies like a duck, quacks lie a duck, swims like a duck, and walks like a duck, then it is a duck. Members, (Debanasyonal Forum members) here is a 2 years DEBACLE and a 2 years BROAD DAY LIGHT PILLAGING of HAITI’s treasury by ALEXANDRE and LATORTUE during their 2 years tenure. The total sum given to Boniface/Latortue and is un-accounted for is $964,000,000 (Million). This sum does not include $500 million spent directly by the United Nations for its programs in Haiti including MINUSTHA. The $550 Million the US administration said it spent in Haiti is not included either. So in total $ 2 Billion dollars were spent in Haiti between the period after February 29, 2004 to May 14, 2006 date when Mr. Preval became President of Haiti. So Boniface and Latortue “where is the beef.” Where was the money spent? Clearly a “leve kanpe” must take place so this money can be returned to the Haitian people and those responsible for its high-jacking be afforded the rigor of the “law” (I know that currently in Haiti, many will say the LAW is a joke, nevertheless something has to be done.) By the way, this remind me of a famous quote of former US Supreme Court Justice Frankfurter who often would exclaimed when case laws were cited by both sides of the argument: IF THIS IS THE LAW, THEN THE LAW IS AN ASS. Members, note the following reported on Television Nationale, Sigal FM, Radio Kiskeya, and disseminated in other media in and out of Haiti: 1) We must applaud and support members of Haiti’s Parliament such as Senator Beauzile who raised the issue of the $964 Million on Television Nationale. 2) Many thanks to Senator Bastien who revealed to the Haitian people the fleecing of the Haitian People by Latortue to the tune of Gdes 44 Million, more or less $ 1 Million (@Gdes44=$1) or the equivalent of $1370 stolen by Latortue for each of the 730 days, that Latortue said was his per diem. Not satisfied with this hold up, he took $ 90,000 from the treasury to buy 2 cars for his use in Miami. The ultimate pick pocketing of the Haitian people was to pay him-self $15,000 a month, plus set up an office, and hire the services of security to guard him for life. These, he claimed were perks due a “former Prime Minister,” in the mean time the legitimate Prime Minister was sitting in jail. Again thanks to Senator Bastien. 3) We are grateful to Senator Fortune who revealed that money earmarked for the maintenance of the road of Port Salut and Laborde was used by the Minister of Travaux Publics Fritz Adrien for Travel and per diem payment. (Decidedly there was an epidemic of per diem in this group, as Koudjay said in one of its song ‘GADE YON EKIP PIYAGE.’) 4) Thank you Depute Jonas Coffy for telling the Haitian people about questionable transactions undertaken by the Directeur General des Douanes – a Mr. Valles who claimed he ordered nearly Gdes 6 Million (5,954,000) worth of equipments for the Douanes such as air conditioners and supplies from Valerio Canez store. But accounting and inspection revealed, according to Deputy Coffey, that nothing was ever purchased. Another Gdes 3 Million (3,061,000) was supposedly spent on a firm called SACOMA. According to the Deputy the firm does not exist. 5)Thank you Depute Dolne Astrel for revealing to the nation that teachers and employees of the Ministry of Education have not been paid in 2 years, the 2 years that Latortue received $964 Million. Sat on the back of the Haitian people. 6) Thank you Senateur Bastien for revealing on Radio Signal FM that Harold Bruno the man put in charge of day to day operation of the Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres by Herard Abraham (a man involved in a scandal involving gasoline purchase for Electricite d’Haiti, 1 month after Latortue and Boniface were put in office). Signal FM quoting Senator Kelly Bastien who stated the Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres had a deficit of Gdes 57 Million. Since Bruno could not explain how and when, the new titular of the Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres Reynald Clerisme fired Bruno. Bruno is also accused of high jacking the May payroll of the Ministry, after the Finance Ministry had released the payroll funds. Clerisme further stated that Bruno could not leave the country. 2 days after the news of Bruno’s firing, he was arrested by US Custom in Miami with $1 Million in his possession. Are the current authorities beginning extradition procedures against Bruno? Stay tuned. 6) We must thank Senator Bastien for revealing on Television Nationale that the Director General of the Ministere des Affaires Sociales Jean Charles Yves can not account for Gdes 25 Million of the Ministry’s money. This is the tip of the iceberg As Senator Fortune said on Tele Nationale, the new government owes the Haitian people an accounting of what they found, so it is clear to all in what fiscal state the country is. More later, stay tune Harry Fouche P.S. The Revelations of Senator Bastien, Senator Fortune, Senator Beazile, Depute Coffy, Depute Astrel, were public and broadcasted on Television Nationale. ********** Date: Fri, 11 Aug 2006 19:12:23 -0700 (PDT) The International Aid Debacle: How to Get a Return on the Investment in Haiti The international community has invested more than $15 billion in foreign aid in Haiti since the late 1970s. The Clinton Administration alone spent $3 billion in Haiti in 1994. Looking at the current state of the country, there is nothing to show for it. Haiti is the sixth poorest country in the world. The infrastructure is falling apart with limited electricity, a phone system that barely works and roads in shambles. The World Bank and other international institutions have spent several billion dollars supporting education and various projects, however, illiteracy stands at about 54 percent; agricultural production is a quarter of what it was in 1960; per capita income is only $370/year; the level of unemployment is 75 percent; there are only three hours of electricity per day; and 80 percent of the water supply is contaminated. Haiti is an ecological disaster. Haiti’s leaders have squandered the opportunities provided by international aid to address the country’s dire situation. Current and past Haitian governments have effectively shunned the rule of law and have been deeply involved in corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering, and political assassinations. International funds have often ended up in the personal banks accounts of government leaders and their national and international supporters. Meanwhile, the vast majority of Haitian people continue living in abject poverty. No one has ever been held accountable. With the support of the international community, Peruvian officials went after former President Alberto Fujimori and recovered more than $40 million in siphoned international aid. In sharp contrast, Haitian deposed leaders have never been prosecuted by the international community. The stolen funds have never been seized and put to their original and intended use. One of the main reasons Haitian leaders continue to evade accountability is an unrealistic and unseeing bureaucracy that is firmly ensconced in the international institutions, many officers in their same positions for decades. It seems they continually turn a blind eye to the Haitian government’s refusal to play by the same rules that other countries are held to in order to receive and maintain international funding. They do not, in effect, hold them to the same standards as other countries. The Haitian government has yet to submit sufficient or correctly formatted requests for funding. They have yet to met the criteria for receiving and accounting for funds, but they always receive their funds. Despite these facts, the bureaucracies of the international institutions offer reports outlining all the benefits Haiti has received as a result of aid packages, but the reports do not always reflect the reality. Perhaps they should ask why, despite their efforts, there is no progress in alleviating the systemic poverty in Haiti and no movement on economic development. The World Bank’s 2002 assistance evaluation report on Haiti paints a grim social and economic outlook and outlines specific recommendations on how to address the mistakes of the past and improve accountability in Haiti. While the recommendations are in place, they are not enforced. The same situation exists with regard to the Inter-American Development Bank and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Without the ability to conduct an honest and candid assessment of the impact ? or lack thereof ? of international funds for Haiti, instability in Haiti will continue. This is for certain. Recommendations Don’t get me wrong. Aid must go to Haiti. There is a hardly a country that is more in need. But we need to put in place an appropriate framework to make the system really work. The international community should have a zero tolerance policy for undemocratic behavior including the violation of the constitution, human rights violations, rigged elections, corruption, and drug trafficking. The following actions would go a long way to ensuring that that aid is effectively used: § Enforce International Standards: First, the World Bank, IADB, the European Union and USAID have standards in place that Haiti should meet in order to receive funding. They must be enforced. If not, Haiti will remain mired in poverty and instability. With the enforcement of the international standards, there are safeguards against the money being misappropriated, squandered or diverted to personal bank accounts. These programs are in place to help change the system and provide opportunities for Haiti’s poor. We must ensure that they actually start to reap the benefits. § Require a Preval Administration Policy Agenda: After three months in office, it is time for Haitian government officials to present the donors with a strategic economic, social and political action plan. Their current plan is disorganized and is not comprehensive. Rather it is a sort of list of $7 billion in projects without systematic justification behind how they fit into Haiti’s overall goals. This plan should include projects in the areas of education, infrastructure, agriculture, security, economic development, and environmental protection. Equally important, this plan should take into account international funding requirements. § Strengthen Domestic Management Capability and Accountability: The Haitian government needs to put in place a human infrastructure that is capable of project and fund management and remove those who are incompetent. They should recruit capable professionals from the Diaspora and within Haiti into government. There are too many unqualified people in the government and it is severely limiting progress. As a capable management team comes in, they must also be subject to strengthened rules to ensure proper oversight and accountability so that the cycle of corrosion that has weakened human infrastructure in government in the past, corrupting many who entered government with good skills and a clean conscience, cannot be repeated. § Coordinate Donor Programs: In 2006, there are more than 3,000 non-governmental organizations operating in Haiti ? often at cross-purposes. Nobody within the international community or within the Haitian government has a comprehensive overview of what they are doing. In order to maximize efficiency, international donors should put into place a multilateral coordination body and develop a database of existing programs. Existing programs should then be reviewed for redundancy and to identify additional areas of need. Haiti needs targeted grants for specific and measurable goals, not a $750 million lotto prize. This will not only reduce waste, but will also make it more difficult to divert funds. § Support Institutions, Not Individuals: The international community should support the rule of law, checks and balances, free and fair elections good governance and functioning ministries. Current efforts in Haiti should focus on clear goals, not charisma, not acquaintances, lobbying or contractors’ political influence. § Develop an Independent and Non-Partisan Judiciary and Police Force : The international community should support a non-partisan reform of Haiti’s justice system. The Executive Branch is interfering and politicizing the judicial system. This must stop. The training school of judges must reopen with international support. The Haitian National Police should clean out its ranks of known kidnappers, drug traffickers and political agents involved in human rights violations. The international community should provide technical assistance to strengthen the police force and help put into place mechanisms that will ensure that it is independent and non-partisan. § Require Efficiency in the State Sector: International donors provide approximately 50 percent of Haiti’s budget. International donors have an investment in the country and should expect to see a return. The continued provision of funds should be linked to Haiti’s performance in generating its own revenue from its revenue generating sectors, such as telecommunications, ports, and the tax authority. § Support Haiti’s Private Sector: Haiti has an eager Chamber of Commerce with 10 chapters throughout the country. They desperately lack information on how to function as a Chamber as well as the ability to carry out the various trade and economic promotion activities normally run by Chambers. In addition, there is a need for micro-credit programs and women’s development projects, including women entrepreneurs ? a particular opportunity for the IADB. Haiti also needs jobs. One way to encourage job creation would be for the U.S. Congress to pass the HOPE legislation that would lower tariffs in certain sectors and promote greater U.S.-Haiti trade. § Push for Timely Elections: There is some concern that there is an effort to delay the remaining district Legislative and nationwide Municipal and Local elections. The international community has a $120 million investment in these elections. If they are not carried out in a timely and free and fair election process, this government will have undermined all the current and previous efforts to build viable democratic process and institutions. § Support for Democratic Institutions: Political parties, civil society, parliament and the Ombudsman’s office are all still in need of training programs on how to function and organize. Local human rights groups and NGOs have good intentions but no resources. And the average Haitian citizen is still largely unaware of his/her rights as a citizen. This is a long-term struggle ? one that international institutions have certainly been investing in ? but one that needs continued attention. § Stop the Thugs: Gang members, thugs and drug dealers are still linked to state affairs. In fact, on Preval’s trip to Washington in May, the White House barred access to two members of the Preval delegation who were known criminals. The Haitian government must put a vetting process in place to keep criminals out of its ranks ? and have the courage to clear out criminals and others unworthy of the public trust who are already in government. The international community should require the development of such a process as a condition for further aid. The U.S. Department of State could help by developing and sharing a list of those known or strongly suspected of not meeting transparent criteria. § Peacekeepers Should Disarm All Armed Groups: Aristide loyalists (chimeres, gangs and drug traffickers) control 80 percent of the weapons and the police. The rebels also have some weapons in their possession. Both groups need to be disarmed. This is an important step toward restoring security, rule of law and the authority of the police. § Prosecute Corruption: The international community should revoke visas and freeze bank accounts and other personal assets of past and current Haitian government officials involved in corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering, and human rights violations. There must be accountability. The international community, specifically the U.S., must continue to investigate what happened to prior aid to Haiti. § U.S. Policy Discipline: When USAID decided to decentralize all programmatic decisions giving field officers authority instead of Washington, the U.S. government gave up a significant amount of control over policy implementation. Decision-making should, of course, take into account field officer input and should be a shared responsibility. However, in order to ensure policy discipline in the field, USAID should follow the policies set forth by the NSC and State Department. § Don’t Go Native: Personal relationships are important, but should not obstruct a more business-like approach. There is an increasing trend for representatives of international aid organizations to become personally involved in the political process. Some are personally investing in the business sector. They are not Haitian. This is not their mission. In fact, it is destructive. Their mission is to assist. They have an enormous contribution to make and expertise to bring to bear. All of that, however, is negated when they choose sides or have a stake in the status quo. USAID’s policy is to “put the client first.” This makes good sense. It is time to interject some common business sense into this process. International donors have to stop the double standard of exempting Haiti from common international practice and requirements. They should be expecting to see a return on their investment, but instead, they are merely accepting mediocrity and thus limiting opportunity. The Haitian people are hard working, positive and good people. They deserve the opportunities to contribute to society and move beyond subsistence living. * Stanley Lucas worked on Afghanistan, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Lucas is currently the Director for Latin America and the Caribbean for the Washington Democracy Project. ***** HLLN Recommended Links: All the documents, facts and info that refutes Lucas’ assertions may be found at: A truce and cease fire was reached between the Boston section of Site Soley and the entire other 33 sectors of Site Soley after the death of Labanyè. All 34 sectors are united and want peace. (Why does Lucas want the US to declare war on the people of Site Soley and categorize a police problem, a social problem as a military and terrorist issue??? For Lucas’ and the coup d’etat folks’ political reasons no doubt.) See, Should Haiti Declare ‘War Against Terrorism” Against the United States? by Steve Pitteli, 4Report.com | July, 2006 Haiti Terrorist Toto Constant Statement by Cop Watch on Miami “Aspirational Rather than Operational” – 7 Arrested in Miami Terror Plot, Democracy Now! | Monday, June 26th, 2006 See, The International Destabilization of the Preval government and destruction of the Feb. 7, 2006 Haitian people’s vote continues, July 21, 2006 | Translation of excerpts of a recorded July 20, 2006 Radio Levekampe Broadcast (Masner Beauplan show) direct from Haiti, Ezili Danto Witness Project, July 21, 2006 Click on: Destabilization Preval/Alexi- Listen to original Kreyol audio (Ale tande rapo 20 Jiye 2006 sa a an Kreyol See, Ti Blan – Videoclip interview, March 2,2006 Ti Blan Video interview English Transcript of Ti Blan Interview “Site Solèy Youth Activist say ‘We are not the ones who are the Kidnappers’ Don’t Trust Technocrats Aid is not the answer, job creation and investment in your own people/own resources is the key HLLN comments on Stanley Lucas’ “Haiti?s ?Hopeless? Youth Fertile Ground for Terrorists” , August 3, 2006 *********************************************** So Ann is finally being released from prison in Haiti! Haiti Democracy Project is scheduled to be in New York on August 19, 2006 – Bwa Kayiman Ceremony Monologue, Part 1 (c) 2000 by Marguerite Laurent Beyond 2004: Bwa Kayiman Ceremony, Part 2 (c) 2000 by Marguerite Chèn sa pap janm kase!: Ezili Dantò Performance ritual ending the Bwa |
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