23387: Marina: Re: 23385: Esser: Rebellion in Bel Air (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Marina <marinawus@yahoo.com>

Dear Corbetters:

The following quote is taken from the Article posted
by Esser, "Rebellion in Bel Air."

"Who are the resisters? They are men and women, some
as young as 13 and as old as 69. Most are former
peasants who were forced from their land by the
economic downfall of the IMF-mandated structural
adjustment programs that drove small farmers out of
business. They brought their families to the capital
in the last 10 to 20 years, desperately searching for
jobs that didn't exist. Most live in neighborhoods
such as Cité Soleil and Bel Air where two or three
families share one small room in a concrete or tin
shack."

Let us be analytical and inquisitive, during the past
14 years when these families have been coming from the
provinces to PAP:

1)What were the govenments in place doing as far as
land reform?
2)Were programs put in place in Cite Soleil, La
saline, Bel Air...and all other "quartiers populaires
to train the young people in different trades and to
occupy their time?
3)Are the "resisters" really just the people described
by the article?

For your information, there was land reform program
that the Preval regime undertook (INARA). Perhaps we
could analyze that program and its results and/or
failures.
a) Can you let us know what support was given to this
land reform program and how it was supported by the
government?
b) Could you give us details about the aim of that
program?

I for one would appreciate if we could really ANALYZE
the policies/programs that were implemented during the
past 20 years in Haiti (not just PAP) and really
consider the impact and lessons learned from these.

These over generalizations by people who speak about
and for the Haitian people, these so-called "experts"
in everything Haitian is starting to get old.

Marina