I’m Confused
Haitians are still displaced; without running water, food, and electricity. There’s a 90% unemployment rate. Tarp and tents communities collapse from heavy rain, imagine what will happen if a hurricane hits. Where is the donation money, is there such a thing as disaster management or accountability? Is their government helping or hurting them? Why are they giving out medals?
Medals for Haiti recovery, little for homeless
By JONATHAN M. KATZ (AP)
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haiti’s president handed out medals to celebrities, aid-group directors and politicians for post-earthquake work Monday in a ceremony designed to beat back criticism of an uneven recovery that has left 1.6 million people homeless and destitute six months to the day since the disaster.
Just out of sight, baking in the oppressive noonday sun, were the fraying tarps of tens of thousands of homeless who live on the Champ de Mars, once a grassy promenade surrounding the government complex.
“That is just a way to put the people to sleep. But the people are suffering,” Edouard James, a 32-year-old vendor said when he was told of the ceremony. Unable to find a job with his degree in diplomacy, he sells pirated DVDs in a tarp-covered booth.
“We are tired of the NGOs … saying we will have a better life and better conditions, and then nothing happens,” he said.
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Please, The Haitian government is notorious for grabbing all the aid that has EVER been sent to Haiti. How do you think Baby Doc has lived in a Parisian Hotel for the past 20+ years? It is not exactly a Days Inn!!! Unfortunately, no one trusts the Haitians to do the right thing. Most countries realize that the leaders grab all the cash and the people get nothing. Just like Goldman Sachs, those at the top feed first and ferociously, what pittance is left go to the stockholder (people) to make themselves look legit! Haiti will NOT have the rubble removed in our lifetime. yet alone and rebuilding. Unless there is a severe uprising, nothing will happen. You cannot remove all that rubble with buckets!! Its a dog eat dog culture according to the few Haitians I know. There are pockets of wealth that control everything and they certainly feed first! As long as the government there has any control, NOTHING will happen. Clinton cannot even get anything accomplished! He can do more with North Korea than Haiti, think about it! They are worse that the Camaria in Italy, because the thieves are the police and politicians!
Of course I think this is horrific, but that culture has existed for forever, it will take many years to change that archaic thinking, if at all. That said,our country- our rules- we must not allow this barbaric behavior, and punish ALL those involved.
My hope was to spark a lively conversation…unfortunately, I am not confused but angered to witness the injustice. Thank you for commenting!