Haiti Remains on its Death Bed

We have recently heard of many activities in this northern tip of Haiti. Gold had been discovered; a university had been built; a financial center is being erected; the major roadway had been reconstructed; and now, a major seaport is a subject of controversy. They have called all this, an approach at decentralization. Not bad for a country that is on its deathbed.

When I heard that they had found mineral wealth in Haiti, I was so glad that I emailed the news right away to all my friends. Not that I did not doubt that the general population might never smell a cent, but it was more of a wish to me that a good news for a country should be considered so. Since then we haven't heard anymore about it. I've rather heard rumors of infighting between the president and other vultures of the country. Knowing our Haiti, we could expect the worst for the gold. So far, I believe the university is schooled by rats, goats, and other bestial characters. The financial center is full of fouls of unscrupulous foreigners performing in the Haitian mind-frame. The road was poorly built and has already been gravely deteriorating. Now, a seaport is in the making. And, guess what? They have found endangered species, (coral reefs and lizards) on the site.

It is nature versus society. Those who are for society say, yeah. Those for nature say, nay! The seaport is being considered to facilitate shipments of goods and materials back and forth from the new developments there in this northeastern end of the country. The nearby Cap-Haitian port is considered small and obsolete. Most things heading to the northeast activity area have been done through the neighboring Republic Dominican. Protagonists think that a port near the development center would greatly benefit Haiti. Environmentalists think that the building of a major seaport there in the city of Fort Liberte would gravely disturb the marine echo system in the northern area.

In my view, I don't think it is going to make much difference in Haiti. It is already a decrepit environment. You build the port, it is very likely not going to improve the lot of people there much. You leave the echo system alone, nobody is going to benefit either. The ocean in Haiti is already polluted with all the garbage and soil coming down the ground. And according to reports, much of the developments going on there in the northeastern corner have not been done according to environmental standard. Basically the foreigners have been there utilizing Haitian standards for their developmental projects.

What can we say? Not much has changed. Just like happened from the 1915 intrusion. They came and left, and Haiti has remained the "same old Haiti," a grandmother on its death bed.

By E.C. GRANMOUN
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