12534: NY Congressman Towns speaks about Haiti to US Congress (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 22:26:27 EDT
From: MKarshan@aol.com
To: MKarshan@aol.com
Subject: NY Congressman Towns speaks about Haiti to US Congress

HAITI -- HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS (Extensions of Remarks - July 09, 2002)

[Page: E1219]
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HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS
OF NEW YORK
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Tuesday, July 9, 2002

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, as our Nation turns its focus toward a full-scale
battle against worldwide terrorism, there are some international human
rights issues that are evading the scope of U.S. policymakers. This should
be of great concern to those in this country who have long been concerned
with the welfare of all humanity, be it in Asia, Africa, or in the
Caribbean. Unbeknownst to many in this country, one of the hungriest and
most neglected nations in the world lies not only in this hemisphere, but
also in our own Caribbean backyard. The situation in Haiti is worsening by
the day while international financial institutions refuse to provide
development assistance, and the role of the U.S. is still unclear. What is
certain is that a double standard has been created regarding Haiti, and that
rather than being helped, the population is being further driven into the
ground.
[Page: E1220]

Andrew Blandford, Research Associate at the Washington-based Council on
Hemispheric Affairs (COHA), has recently authored a press memorandum
entitled ``As Catastrophe Approaches in Haiti, the U.S. Continues to Block
International Loans.'' This important analysis, which was released on June
13, will shortly appear in a revised form in the upcoming issue of that
organization's estimable biweekly publication, The Washington Report on the
Hemisphere. Blandford's research findings spotlight the developing Haitian
tragedy and examine the role played by units of our own government in
orchestrating the withholding of over $500 millon in loans and grants to our
poverty-stricken neighbors.

Following weeks of floods and increased potable water shortages in Haiti,
residents are forced to spend, on average, nearly a tenth of their meager
U.S. $1 a day income on such a fundamental staple as water. As a result of
its scarcity and inflated price, less than half of Haiti's population
consumes potable water, compounding the nation's abysmal health standards.
Over 4% of Haiti's populace is infected with HIV/AIDS while only 1 in 10,000
has access to a physician.

The sanctions against Haiti include the withholding of a $146 million loan
from the Inter-American Development Bank that was intended to fund
education, healthcare and infrastructure projects. Because the IDB loans
have already been approved, we have the ironic situation where Haiti must
continue to pay interest on money it does not receive. While U.S. dollars
flow in record amounts to such undemocratic nations as Saudi Arabia and
Pakistan, our Caribbean neighbors live in abject poverty. We must recognize
the injustice of withholding, international development assistance to a
country previously ruled by the U.S.-supported Duvalier family dictatorship
which distorted the country's institutions while running up record debts.

COHA researcher Blandford calls for action through the passage of H.C.R.
382, sponsored by our colleague Representative Barbara Lee and the
Congressional Black Caucus. This resolution would urge the President to end
the virtual embargo on development assistance to Haiti. Consequently, the
article is of great relevance since the need to constructively engage Haiti
is likely to grow in importance in the coming months, given the precedent
for Haitian refugees to attempt to escape to Florida by means of a perilous
sea passage when famine and destitution become unbearable at home, even
though they face automatic interdiction and are forced to return to the
island.