20858: donnasteiner: Exchange Rates 3/26 in Ouanaminthe Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: donnasteiner@comcast.net

Ouanaminthe sits on one side of the border of Haiti and in the Dominican Republic, Dajabon sits on the other.  These two towns are quite interdependent on one another -- many Haitians sell goods in Dajabon, but most buy and bring the produce and goods sold in the Dominican back to O. to sell there.

Last August the exchange rate was 23-27 gourdes to $1A.  The rate has steadily dropped? risen? -- last I knew from my friend in O. the exchange was 41-42 gourdes to $1A, that is until today!

TODAY in O. the exchange rate was 20 grdes. to $4H, $1A.  A week ago these numbers were doubled.  BUT, the price of rice, cooking oil, and gasoline HAVE NOT been adjusted to the new exchange rate.

A gallon of cooking oil = 300 grdes., $60H, $15A.  A week or two ago, $16A.  Adjusted should be $7A or so?

A demi sack of rice (55 lbs.) = 800 grdes., $160H, $40A.  A week or two ago, $60A.  Adjusted should be $20A or so?

A gallon of gas = 150 grdes., $30H, $7.5A.  A week or two ago, $9A.  Adjusted should be $3-4A?

The numbers don't all line up, I suppose, supply and demand, and my less than perfect math.


Meanwhile, look at some awful facts....

How horrifying that cooking oil is more precious than gasoline.  That rice costs close to $1A/lb. (last week it was more) -- think guys -- how much per lb. in the US?


Meanwhile, the peso is in free fall -- at the end of August, 2003, the exchange rate was approx. 29 pesos to $1A, with fluctuations 2-4 pesos (upward) in the following weeks.  About three weeks ago the peso climbed to 48 pesos to $1A.  Dominicans were crossing the border to O. at one point because food was cheaper in O.  Today 70 grdes., $14H,  = 100 pesos.

With the economies destabilized in both countries, who is looking after/controlling the import/export and exchange issues?

And THIS IS WHAT I THINK WE ALL CARE ABOUT, WHO is going to feed the four children in O. who lost their mother this fall and their father this past week?  Have NO ONE to care for them or feed them. ZERO relatives.

So, please get your help down to Haiti, however you can.

donnasteiner@comcast .net