30731: Gilles (reply) Re : 30670: Kriegsman (reply) Re: 30664: Spinelli (reply) To those who responded, or read the back and forth on the Spinelli email (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Emmanuelle Gilles <manugi28@yahoo.fr>

Can you let us know how Bernard Gousse and Andy Apaid, business owners have 
exploited underpaid Haitian workers.  It seems to me that is how all businesses 
flourish including the sweat shops that were once in Haiti.  Is it OK for the 
sweat shops to exploit but not OK for Haitian businessmen.

When you referred to the first democratically elected government, you would 
agree that this constitutional president was also a demon, a sorcerer, a 
criminal, a drug dealer - thus  whoever got rid of him did us a great favor, 
although we do believe in respecting the legitimacy of an elected president. 
To those who wrote on the security situation, it is a fact that kidnappings 
were part of a legacy left and entertained by the monster called Aristide in 
retaliation for his alleged kidnapping.  The young people in Cite Soleil who 
never had the means to earn a decent living who were always a peaceful people - 
suddenly became heavily armed with all types of sophisticated weapons - 
Aristide did not provide them with schools or homes but did give them guns and 
money.  Folks, what did you expect them to do with those?  just think.  I have 
had very good years in Haiti when gun possession was not possible unless one 
was a policeman, or a tonton macoute at the time - thus most crimes
 were politically linked.  Perhaps we should be politically correct in our 
analysis by saying the truth.

Regarding the Government of Latortue which is labaled "De facto" - you realize 
that constitutionally the government was very much legitimate since the 
President of the Constitutional Court was the next in line to assume power in 
the event of a presidential vacuum according to the Haitian constitution. 
Latortue was only a  Prime Minister with much power.  You would also realize 
that the constitution does have its flaws and it would not have been possible 
for Latortue to organize elections in 90 days as stipulated by the 
constitution.  Thus the defacto situation was a "force majeure".  To say that 
Gerard Latortue ushered in Haiti's present depth of suffering is so dishonest 
and so untrue.  Allow me to inform you that when the Latortue and his Ministers 
joined the Government, the state treasury was already bankrupt.  Economic 
growth was negative (.5) - public reserve could not even guarantee 6 months of 
imports, the Haitian money devaluated tremendously and Aristide did not
 even have a budget.  It was the Latortue Government who rehabilitated public 
finances and economic growth rose to 2.5% - You may be able to find facts 
regarding the Latortue Government in "le Livre blanc de la transition".

For Spinelli, I will make some suggestions on whom you can meet and to discuss 
your  projects - I will send you names and numbers to your email address. 
Haiti is now in dire needs for good projects.  Funds were pledged from several 
financial institutions (IBRD (largest contributor), World Bank, EDF (European 
Develoment Fund), OPEC as well as bilateral funding.  Funds are available for 
good projects in Haiti - presently there is a huge problem with the 
Government's absorption capacity.  Most of the Haitian technical experts have 
left the country.  This brain drain impacts negatively on Government human 
resources.  The money is waiting for good projects.  Furthermore, Haitian 
companies do not have the guarantees necessary which tend to amount from 1 
million to 5 million dollars after bidding for project implementation.

So far, the government has made good progress and this is a continuation from 
Latortue's efforts in customs revenues - with these revenues, they are able to 
construct the road (milot-Cap-Haitien-Ouanaminthe)  there is a project to 
construct Dajabon (DR) - Ouanaminthe.

Again the security dilemma inherited by the Government of Latortue and Preval 
has not made it easy for the Government to focus on development issues more 
profoundly.  Great efforts have been made so far and things are much better.

Again, in reading some of the postings, I can ask whether our Corbett friends 
here are contacting the right  people or are getting the right information. 
Regards.