14711: Saint-Vil: Elusive Identity of Haiti's Oligarchy - blindness of the willing ? (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Jean Saint-Vil <jafrikayiti@hotmail.com>


Thor Burnham expressed a desire to see more indepth discussion about the
identity of Haiti's oligarchy - once dubbed Morally Repugnant Elite (MRE) in
the U.S. Press. Thor raised a number of questions which I do not have
adequate time and knowledge to address here and now. However, one could
ponder upon the following quotes excerpted from "The Generals Must Go" by
Jack Sheinkman - source: (http://www.nlcnet.org/Haiticoup.htm ) .

Note: Sheinkman's well-referenced report contains a whealth of detail about
some of the big bosses of Haiti's oligarchy, but also about the connection
USAID cherishes with them. And what's more interesting and compelling about
this report is the fact that some of Sheinkman's most incriminating
statements are in fact from USAID itself.
-------------------------------------

"It is difficult to imagine a more corrupt private sector, operating
completely on its own set of rules.  According to USAID, in Haiti, "most
companies keep several sets of books for different audiences and accounting
firms are not required to follow standard reporting practices."65
"In short, the tiny handful of Haitian families, like Mevs, Apaid, Nadal,
Acra, Bigio and Saliba do whatever they want.  "Haiti's business class,"
writes the Journal of Commerce, "portrayed by critics as one of the world's
least socially conscious, has traditionally bankrolled army generals to
protect its government contacts and business monopolies.  This has
perpetuated a kleptocratic system that has prevented Haiti from making
headway toward economic or political democracy, critics say."67

 USAID, of course, will say they always distanced themselves from this
corrupt business elite.  Back in 1982 the U.S. Department  of Labor
reported, "Haiti's economy is mainly governed by the private sector,
which...is controlled by a few related or closely associated groups of
individuals."68  This is what USAID was going to change with its support to
the private sector.  Also writing in 1982, USAID explained its strategy:
 
     "Finally, an expanded AID program will provide vital support to
modernizing forces and institutions in Haiti, and help movement toward a
more open and democratic society...These developments toward a more open and
participatory society require enforcement on every level... There has been
no time in recent Haitian history when prospects for strengthening
modernizing forces have been greater than they are today.  Support for this
process is not only consistent with U.S. values and traditions but it is
also at the heart of our highest policy objectives for hemispheric
development."69

 USAID's private sector program was meant to create a new business class of
"socially responsible capitalists," and foster an "economic pluralism [that]
will lead to political pluralism."  However, years later in 1989, USAID was
still putting forth the same line:

 "Our private sector strategy has been to work through intermediary
institutions which address specific constraints to private sector growth. 
These institutions then work directly with investors and private sector
representatives to channel resources to progressive elements of the
privatesector dedicated to long term development in Haiti."70

The best thing that can be said about USAID's 10 year attempt to work with
the "progressive elements of the private sector" is that it was a miserable
failure. "
------------------

Now put all this in context with recent events. Has anything changed since
1990's in terms of USAID-MRE connections?

Finally, let me state that I am fully aware that most people on this list
know quite well who constitute Haiti's brutal oligarchy. I am not so naive
as to believe I am putting smoking-gun, new information out here. Facts such
as the ones reported in the above referenced report have ben pubished in
many documents, including books written by some list members that have far
more knowlege than I about the subject matter.

I simply am sick and tired of staright-faced folks pretending not to see
what we are all looking at day in day out. I refuse to help play that game
with folks that have travelled from Site Katon to Morne calvaire and aren't
blind to miss the drastic change in population pigmentation asociated with
such trips. These good folks know the history of their countries, of this
continent, of the past 500 years. They have first hand experience with white
privilege as it is practiced in Haiti, in the D.R., in their home towns...
yet, they feel the need to ask me to interpret the data for them.  And, of
course, one should never mind  helping a "brother" out. After all,  I too,
do have a deam.

Good folks, Haiti's big-bellied, illiterate, malnourished black children
aren't AI creations. They are the result of a History we all shared. In
fact, these children live also somewhere in your home town and they
"somehow" happen to be of the same colour as Haiti's. Any guess as to why
that is? You really don't know why Phillip Emeagwalis  are dying before they
reach 5 years of age - in Haiti, Jamaica, Soweto, Papua New-Guinea,
Washington D.C. , (YES in Washington D.C. they also die before they reach
5!). Their mothers and fathers aren't victims of Kwatyoko because of voodoo
curses, or the curse of Cain, of Cham or whatever mythical figure invented
by your favorite slave-making religions .... they die because too many
so-called "good people" feel perfectly comfortable pretending "not to know".
They die because the recent $5000 donation from the Vatican to help "bring
democracy to Haiti" has done what it was meant to do... add pepper on
Haitians open wounds.

Haiti, just like Africa, has so many friends. So many friends which are all
too willing to offer them a NEPAD (Knee-pad). Oh I can't help but wonder how
we would have faired without them all?

Yes sir , we are the world - one big family!


Jafrikayiti
"Hypocrisy is so ugly, even his children refuse to him dad in public"
http://www.i-port.net/sd-in-j/


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