a few thought on the situation in Haiti

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I totally agree with the Reverend.

I just wanted to add a few points.

First, I believe that for almost 20 years, Haiti has not received international aid. A lot of countries have "pledge" (promess) to give aid but never actually gave. For example Canada has pledge to give 555 million dollars but never did. A lot of countries do not see Haiti as a priority.

However, a lot of Haitians are eating mud cookies in order not starve to death.

This is not happening in Africa.

It is happening a couple of hours away from Miami.

Haitians should not wait for handouts.

They will wait forever.

The problem can be solved internally.

The Reverend mention in his letter to President Bush that the Haitian diaspora send close to 2 Billion dollars to their loved ones anually via money transfer (e.g., Western Union).

Well, the money transfer is the solution to fix Haiti.

The Haitian goverment should pass a law reserving 10% of the money sent for projects in Haiti.

The plan I have in mind is as follows:

The Haitian diaspora gives 2 billion dollars per year to their relatives for survival (through money transfers, e.g., Western Union).

While this is good, it is only a temporary relief.

Month after month you still have to send money to your relatives.

Why not teach them how to fish instead of giving them the fish! A concrete solution for Haiti is to start small by using one of the 5 smalls islands that it owns.

For example Tortuga island can be prepared for development.

For the size of Tortuga, all you would need is about 300 million dollars.

You would need 7 things.

1) Roads 2) Water 3) Electricity 4) Sea Port 5) Airport 6) Trustworthy Police Force (Security) 7) Marketing plan.

You would then need to market the island to multi-national companies and rich Haitians to come and open resorts, hotels, restaurants etc...

It would be good to invite more airline to enter Haiti's market.

Also invite more hotel chains (e.g, Hilton) to enter the country.

Port-Au-Prince is not Haiti.

The solution to fix Haiti is to concentrate and develop one small area like Tortuga and invite the international community to invest into tourism.

You would not sell the land to companies but lease them. You would tax the companies.

Local employment would be created and the taxes and tourism profits would help the rest of Haiti.

Once you have enough money, you can do the same for the other 4 islands including (Navasa or Ile a Vache also named Port-Morgan, see port-morgan.com/.

Also see, www.ilelatortue.com for Tortuga's website.

I also feel that it is a priority that the Preval administration put an Army/Police security presence on the ilands of Navasa, Tortuga, Port-Morgan, Gonave and Les Cayemites.

Haiti needs to secure their land in case other countries try to steal it from them. If there is no security on those islands, another country can come, put a flag on the islands and claim it as theirs because of lack of security.

Port-Morgan can be used as Eco-Tourism for its natural flora and beauty.

Why not take this plan I suggested and put it into action.

Recommend the Tortuga plan to the Preval administration and start marketing it to Haitians living abroad.

If Haitians truly love their country which I think they do because they are sending 2 billion dollars per year to help feed their relatives.

Help them think to redirect some of that money into a fund that will help them for the future by teaching them how to fish. Furthermore, open up the ports in Haiti for free trade.

This will lower the cost of goods in Haiti and allow free enterprise.

This is the way you encourage investors to come in the country and invest agressively.

The money for the Tortuga project can be raised easier than you think.

The Haitian diaspora is sending 2 billion dollars per year to their relatives in Haiti via primarily from money transfer such as Western Union and CAM.
Think! 10% of the money sent can be redirected to a credible organization (e.g., United Nations) for specifically funding the Tortuga Project.

That translates into 200 million dollars per year. For example, someone sends $100 to their love one in Haiti.

$10 will be put aside for the Tortuga Project.

The means are already there to force the Haitian diaspora to donate the money.

All there is to do is to wake up the Haitian diaspora patriotic duty and make them understand that the Tortuga Project is a concrete solution for the entire country.

Whatever organization you choose to manage the money must me very strictly accountable for it and report progress in order to avoid corruption.

If you do not know anything about Tortuga.

It is one of the world's best places for kitesurfing.

It is even better than Cabarete, in the Dominican Republic.

The beaches are incredible and prestine.

Preval himself has been there.

But I believe they do not know how to develop the place.

All there is to do is to set up a basic infrastructure.

I believe that 300 million dollars is sufficient.

The rest will be done by investors.

It is easy to point out Haiti's problems but you have to be able to come up with concrete solutions and act on it.

P.S. Haiti imports 90% of their food and goods.

The Preval administration should look into developing an agricultural plan so that Haiti will not be dependent on imports.

This will create employment and move out the peasants turned street merchantes living in Port-Au-Prince.

They can go to the countryside and farm. Haiti can easily grow rice, beans, coffee, poultry, sugar and export the products.

Furthermore, I cannot believe that Preval has been in power for 2 years and cannot resolve something has simple has moving out the street merchants in downtown Port-Au-Prince.

They are creating chaos.

You cannot even pass with your car. Everyone is in the middle of the streets selling something.

There is garbage everywhere.

When a tourist comes to Port-Au-Prince, he/she will be disgusted.

The merchants in the middle of the streets problem does not cost a lot of money to resolve.

All you have to do is to move them under tents outside of the city in a special zone designated as a "flea market".

Then, you have to make the police secure the downtown area so that the street merchants do not come back. If the Preval administration cannot do something as simple as that, I really question their ability to govern?

Greg Peters, March 11 2008, 8:34 AM

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