17808: (Hermantin) Miami-Herald-U.S. dollars spent in Haiti inadequate for nation-b (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Posted on Thu, Jan. 08, 2004

U.S. dollars spent in Haiti inadequate for nation-building

Deputy Assistant Secretary Peter DeShazo of the State Department rejects the
claim that the United States maintains an embargo against Haiti (U.S.
government supports Haiti financially, Jan. 4 letter), offering as proof the
$72 million provided last year, and $850 million since October 1994. But he
does not say that any current aid goes to the Haitian government, because
none does, according to a policy announced by, among others, State Secretary
Colin Powell on Feb. 7, 2002. Nor does DeShazo mention that the United
States openly vetoes aid to Haiti through international financial
institutions such as the Inter-American Development Bank.

DeShazo also fails to mention that the amount of USAID to support
nongovernment organizations has decreased precipitously since Jean-Bertrand
Aristide became president, and now represents less than half the amount
provided before his election. Instead of funding the government institutions
essential to democracy -- police and the justice system, schools and public
works such as clean water and roads -- the United States currently funds
''private groups,'' mostly Washington Beltway contractors, Haitian elites,
religious groups and opposition political parties. The lion's share of the
$850 million went to support U.S. troops in Haiti and military-support
contractors like Halliburton.

Although some aid after 1994 did go to the elected government, we were much
more generous to the Duvaliers and other dictatorships. While some private
groups do excellent work helping Haiti's most vulnerable, USAID
administrators justify their budgets to Congress by claiming that a large
share of each dollar is returned to the United States through salaries and
procurement. The resulting $2.70 per year, per Haitian, in U.S. dollars
spent there spreads thin across urgent health, nutrition and education
needs.

Recent unrest proves that the Haitian government does need to strengthen its
weak police, justice and other institutions. But as the State Department's
own reports acknowledge, the main problem with most institutions is a lack
of money. Further starving them isn't the answer.

IRWIN P. STOTZKY, Professor of Law and Director, University of Miami Center
for the Study of Human Rights, Coral Gables

_________________________________________________________________
Worried about inbox overload? Get MSN Extra Storage now!
http://join.msn.com/?PAGE=features/es