30414: Hermantin (Editorial)A failed country on America's doorstep (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Posted on Sun, May. 13, 2007

A faiiled country on America's doorstep


OUR OPINION: DESPERATION AT SEA A SIGN THAT HAITI NEEDS A LIFELINE

The recent surge of Haitians taking to the seas to flee their destitute country 
resulted last week in a terrible calamity -- a capsized sailboat and 61 souls 
lost, some of them chopped up by sharks. Then came even-worse stories from 
survivors, alleging a crime of indescribable inhumanity. Survivors said that a 
Turks and Caicos patrol boat had rammed their sailboat, towed it into deeper 
water and abandoned all aboard the crippled vessel to the sea and sharks. 
Several investigations are under way by local authorities and the British 
government. What is needed, though, is a thorough, independent investigation by 
a disinterested party such as the Organization of American States.

This sickening, gut-wrenching tragedy has caused many caring Americans to ask 
perplexing questions about why such things continue to happen and what, if 
anything, can be done to prevent them from recurring. The answers aren't simple 
or easy, but this much is clear: The more that the United States and the 
international community can do to stabilize Haiti's politics and help to 
rebuild its shattered economy, the less likely it would be that desperate 
people will cast their fate and lives to the sea.

In a community that routinely welcomes Cubans who flee Fidel Castro's unbending 
treachery, the difference in how U.S. immigration policy treats Haitian and 
Cuban migrants increasingly is becoming a sore point. The reality, however, is 
that U.S. policy is different for Haitians. When they are interdicted, for 
example, Haitians have virtually no chance to make a claim for political 
asylum. If a Haitian interdicted at sea doesn't aggressively demand or shout 
asylum, he will be sent back. Last year, 1,198 Haitians were interdicted but 
not one of them was granted asylum.

More Haitians are leaving the island this year because conditions have 
deteriorated so badly. In April, the U.S. Coast Guard interdicted 704 Haitians, 
nearly as many as were intercepted all of last year. The last big surge came in 
2004 when Haiti was beset with political turmoil that led to former president 
Jean-Bertrand Aristide resigning and leaving the country.

Political scars from those days haven't healed. In many respects, life for most 
people has gotten worse. Killer storms have left thousands homeless; 
kidnappings and gang violence are a scourge in the cities; and riots and 
pillage from years of upheaval have wrecked the economy.

Haiti needs basic infrastructure such as sewers, roads and electric power; and 
it needs improved public services for courts, police, healthcare and education. 
Most of all, though, Haitians need jobs.

On Thursday, Haitian President Rene Preval met with members of the House 
Foreign Affairs Committee and later with Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Mr. Preval 
asked for U.S. help in catching human smugglers and in fighting corruption. 
Mostly, though, he asked for economic help. One thing that Congress can do to 
bring quick help is to fund and implement an initiative that would allow Haiti 
to export some textiles to the United States duty-free. Rep. Kendrick Meek 
asked for support of the initiative in letters to international banks, the OAS 
and Congressional leaders. Rep. Ros-Lehtinen said she will ask President Bush 
to support the effort. Through such initiatives, Haiti can begin the long 
journey to economic well-being.

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