a1048: Re: a1036: Durban on New Role for US Ambassador (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: GERALD LOVELL <nuvision1@msn.com>

I am fairly new to the Corbettland, but have spent the major portion of the last 15 years in Haiti (specifically, Montrouis, Lanzac, St. Marc, Chardenne, Dupin, Degeance and Paresse.  Some of these villages are on National highway one and some are up in the mountains, quite some distance from any main road and a couple are accessible only by donkey or foot.  All of that to say I have seen most of Haiti, up close and personal.
My experience has taught me a few lessons about people.  In my 57 years, I have been in business (big business with executive positions), law enforcement (police officer, administration and consulting), teaching (high school, Christian Bible School, seminary) and pastoring churches (denominational and non-denominational).  Whew!  No wonder I am tired. :-)
Haitians are not as unique as some of you Corbetters believe nor are they as common as others may believe.  Haitians are about as definable as Italians or the French or the British or the Canadians or the Americans or the ????.  There are sweet, wonderful Haitians by any definition of those terms and there are rotten-to-the-core Haitians (your choice of defintions) JUST LIKE THERE ARE IN ANY PEOPLE OR COUNTRY!  Contrary to some stated opinions on this net, social, cultural and economic conditions are not always the shapers of one's destiny.

It may well be that the U.S. has created some of the problems that exist in Haiti and in others parts of the world, but to constantly harp on the negatives without at least nodding recognition of the good the U.S. has done, is to be as unfair and biased as you accuse the U.S. of being.

Lance, if you (and some others on the net) are so "anti-U.S." efforts in Haiti, why would you place the responsibility of the "performance of the local Haitian economy" upon the U.S. Ambassador to Haiti?  How and what would the Ambassador do to influence the Haitian economy - either way?

Also, many of the voices on the net and the opinions expressed are so angry at the U.S. - reason is seldom evident.  It appears that several of the more vocal antagonists of the U.S. presence and involvement in Haiti wish the government of the U.S. would give Haiti and Haitians unlimited funds with no expectations of its use (or misuse) and certainly they should have no right to demand accountability.  By the way, every U.S. dollar of every fund given to Haiti since the very first dollar given has come out of some U.S. citizens' paycheck, savings account or pocket.

If I buy a bicycle, I have the right and the right to expect that it behave and perform like a bicycle.  If, as a government, I give money to feed the hungry, educate the unlearned, clothe the naked and heal the sick, I have the right to see the desired results and to expect that those funds go to the purposes for which they were requested and not into the pockets of politicians (regardless of party affiliations) and the wealthy.

The economic and political system adopted in 1776 for the U.S. has worked well and the citizens of the U.S. are proud of her achievements.  While not perfect, and at times far from it, it still gives the most people the most freedom and the most opportunities of any other system known to or devised by man.  Yes, there have been glaring failures in the history of the nation, but one of America's strengths is that instead of dwelling on the negatives, by and large, she has tried to correct and learn as she goes.

Excuse me while I get down off my soapbox, but I happen to love America and I walk with a limp today from going off to fight in the armed forces while not personally agreeing with the method used to fight the war that wasn't a war.  Just like Haitians who say, my country and I love it even if I don't love everything about it.  While in Port-au-Prince a couple of months ago I saw a bumper sticker that caused me to chuckle (ironically).  It said, "No Telehone, No Electricity, No Water, but I still love Haiti."

As for public opinion of the U.S. by Haitians, or anyone else, their opinion is their opinion.  Nothing will change anyone else's opinion but themselves.   Several years ago during the embargo years, a blight struck the coconut palms along the coastline from Montrouis to just south of St. Marc.  I was talking to some local farmers about the problem and I asked one of them what caused the blight?  There unified response was (this is as close to a quote as I can recall), "President JOHN Bush sent some small planes over late at night and sprayed the trees so they would die."   Nothing said would change their minds.  This is what they KNEW!  How?  They just knew it!  Never mind that the majesty palms next to the coconut palms were untouched.  Some people, for whatever reason, will see a white dove as a black crow and a black crow as a white dove.  Some people want to see cultural and behavioral differences as racial or racism when, in truth, most of it is just plain old simple differences in human beings or ignorance.   Is there racism in the U.S.?  YES!!  Is there racism in Haiti?  Again, YES!  You act different than I do, so you must be the one that needs to change.  NOT!    It isn't necessarily racist, we're just different, that's all!  In the U.S. there are good people and bad people, good politicians and bad politicians.  The same is true of every nation and people.  It is up to the goodness (you define it, Mambo) to overcome the evil.  Personally, I'd rather work toward a positive goal than to keep harping about the failures of the past and trying to find someone to blame.  I want to find solutions, not affix blame.

And, Lance, the U.S. really DOES want to help, but President Bush's administration expects accountability and some of the power structure in Haiti wants none of that.  It isn't really as deep and dark a conspiracy and collusion as some believe.

Thanks for letting me vent.

----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Corbett
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2002 11:36 AM
To: Haiti mailing list
Subject: a1036: Durban on New Role for US Ambassador (fwd)



From: Lance Durban <lpdurban@yahoo.com>

Fellow Corbetters:

We are into Year 2 of President Aristide’s second term, and
quite a few have remarked on the sad State of the Haitian Union.
It’s easy to point the finger of blame, and there are many
perfectly legitimate reasons for failure, but it is useful to
remember all parties should be looking for ways out of the box.


OAS Ambassador Einaudi’s efforts notwithstanding, right now it
strikes me that the ball is squarely in the court of the U.S.
Ambassador in Haiti.   And, I would suggest that the time might
be right for a new job definition for Washington’s top man in
Port-au-Prince.  Traditionally of course, ambassadors exist to
represent their countries on a diplomatic level, oversee foreign
aid programs, and handle consular matters.  I have no problem
with any of that.

In the case of Haiti, however, I would like to see Secretary of
State, Colin Powell add two new criteria in his annual
evaluations of his Ambassador in Port-au-Prince:

      1) performance of the local Haitian economy and
      2) Haitian public opinion of the United States.

By these twin measures, the past year has been a disaster for
our U.S. Ambassador.  But of course it’s unfair to apply these
new criteria looking back, when what we need to be doing is
trying to get ourselves back on the development track.  My
underlying assumption is that the U.S. wants to help Haiti, and
if so, here are some suggestions on how to go about it:

To jump start the Haitian economy...

  a)  The U.S. already recognizes the Aristide presidency,
      as well as the Haitian constitution which grants the
      Haitian president a five year, non-renewable term.
      Why not just explain this, publically, to the 15 people,
      er, parties, of the Democratic Convergence?  Clearly
      both sides in Haiti are playing to Washington, waiting
      for a sign, and for the moment, the signs are telling
      Convergence that negotiations are not necessary.
      Insisting that Aristide negotiate with folks who do not
      want to negotiate strikes me as patently unfair.

  b) Totally re-direct present USAID projects into short term
     job creation efforts to prime the economic pump.  Build
     consumer spending in poor neighborhoods where saving is
     nil, and the Keynesian multiplier will kick in with
     surprising results.

  c) Use those 8 AM meetings at that National Palace to
     preach privatization. If the Aristide administration
     would simply content itself to be the rule maker, rate
     setter, and tax collector, the private sector could and
     would provide all the phone service and electricity the
     country needs and is willing to pay for.

  d) Get involved early in discussions on those infamous IDB
     loans.  Set conditions on how the money will be spent
     with authorized and rigorous audits to ensure
     compliance.  Making sure that loan monies are used for
     their intended purpose is in the stated interest of
     everyone, the Lavalas people and the Democratic
     Convergence.

To improve Haitian public opinion of the United States...

  a) Phase out food aid and replace with a much more visible
     USAID package.  Concentrate on bricks and mortar (short
     term) and education (long term).  Amazingly, Taiwan, with
     its  limited aid budget (reconstruction of Airport Road,
     school programs, agriculture program for rice) is more
     visible than the larger U.S. aid program.  USAID should
     not be run as an undercover operation.

  b) Increase scholarship money for Haitian students to study
     in the U.S. and fund in-country internships to better
     ensure their return to Haiti.   Pair returning Haitian
     interns with Peace Corps volunteers.

  c) Train the U.S. Consulate staff on how to treat the Haitian
     public with courtesy and respect.


Again, the underlying assumption in the above suggestions is
that the U.S. truly wants to help Haiti.  Regrettably, there are
many in Corbettland and beyond who would question that very
assumption.  It is a sad state of affairs indeed when our
Embassy in Port-au-Prince is so far out of touch that it leaves
room for this kind of doubt.

Regards,
Lance Durban


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