koneksyon

A while ago a good friend of mine said that what we needed to do was promote young Haitians in the dyaspora going back to Haiti, similar to Israel's Birthright program. Now this would be a hard goal to achieve since Haiti and Israel have different national problems BUT it would get young Haitians used to the idea that they ARE needed in Haiti. What I'm trying to say is that all of us who've lived in the dyaspora, who've wanted to go back to Haiti not knowing how, this is our time to plan our return and lead the way for other young people to go back (yes, i'm an idealist). I think that besides from completely losing sovereignty, the only other way to change a country is by changing the people who hold a voice, by changing the people who believe they matter. As educated young people with goals in life, that is US, we are that voice that Haiti needs. I thought about it and I realized that we just need to be there in order for things to start to ameliorate. No matter what you want to do in Haiti, as long as it's positive, it would help. Now I understand the issue about enticing people to go back but I think that there are enough of us who are willing to make that sacrifice to pave the way.
I know this seems like idealist blah blah blah but it is possible, scratch that, it's essential to Haiti's lifeline.

Haiti's lifeline is beyond people coming back to their roots.
If I lave Austin now, come back to Haiti open a food business but I have no guarantee of a little electricity from my govt. How is that suppose to make anything better?
I will create new jobs, and give people a reason to spend.
I will probably make some money, most likely send my kids back to the US. They will maybe go to University of Texas like daddy and most likely will never come back.
I left Haiti after HS when my parents business, a supermarket on "Bas de Delmas" suffered from the injustice of the govt. If you ever knew someone running a legit business in Haiti you'll know about that.
So what is there to do when the people do not have a voice?
I say before anything we need a new govt. We need a new one, better now.
I can only hope!

Sadly reporting that but after careful consideration, I think Haiti should be taken over by the US at least for a while.
@Maureen That is what is truly essential to Haiti's lifeline, well at least for a while, a long while!
@shunned stay in Austin for now, nothing you can bring now except millions will do anything now!
Haiti's hope lies in the hand of the US but besides that I'd like to know what you think of this too!
http://forum.koneksyon.com/vanilla/discussion/5162/i-think-haiti-s-next-leader-should-be-.....

Anyone who thinks that the US is the answer to Haiti's problems has obviously never seen how the American govt treats its poor.

Perhaps a way for Haitians outside of Haiti to go back & rebuild everything, including the gov't. would be to apply for jobs with US agencies & companies who will be there for sometime. Work from the inside, so to speak. Use what you learn to build the real future?
Just an idea.

@brook great idea, i'm actually signed up for second tour on RedCross ship to Haiti.
@maureen the US might not be perfect but it's somewhat better organize then any country after they suffered massive 7.0 EQ, almost 200,000 dead and 1 million more homeless.
I'd give them the benefit of the doubt they are logistically better capable of running our poor country.

Yes, Carri, we have to trust those who are capable of restoration. Working from the inside
and using the knowledge & connections and informing/empowering the people of their options
I think it would be possible to construct a Haitian government of the future that would be kinder & wiser.

If Haitians as a group lay around and wait for the Government to get it together BEFORE they rebuild Haiti then stop sending aid.

The Government was a shambles BEFORE the quake, it's going to take a heck of a lot more than wishful thinking to actually get it functioning efficiently as a Government.

I wouldn't want to wish the US Government on the Haitian people either. At that rate, one might as well let the weasels run the hen house.

Business and education is Haiti's future it was before the earthquake and it continues to be now. Commit to doing business with Haiti and help educate the population and then, Haiti has a future.

Pepperfire
http://operationAyiti.org

Yes, pepperfire. I am working on a project to expand communications in Haiti -all with the idea that knowledge is power. This is a high hill to climb, but we will.

First, Haiti needs to have a stricter system to account for all the NGOs in the nation.
Second, the NGOs need to provide the Haitian government actual progress reports.
Third, ban all NGOs which are not living up to intended goals submitted to the Haitian government.

However, Haitians are Haiti's hope! Not just Haitians living in Haiti, but the diaspora also play a vital role in being Haiti's hope. Haitians need to rid their minds of this welfare state mentality always expecting the international bodies to do for Haiti.

@AfroLatino, as of right now we do need that help from the international bodies. Haiti is not going to get any better without outsiders giving a helping hand. I also fully aggree with Shunned because the Haitian government is not helping its people and does not know how to properly take charge of its responsibilities. Perfect example after this earthquake...where the heck is the government??? When other countries are giving a helping hand, the government should have been able to deligate jobs properly and showed this outsiders the inner-core of the country and how the help should be distributed. Only a few are getting the help and others are still suffering because the Americans, the Asians and so forth do not know where most help is needed and how to reach these people...while Jacmeliens are hungry and hurt, there's more than enough aid at the airport not being distributed.

@Emman02136 I truly understand Haiti's need "NOW" for these aids and contribution of the international bodies there now in Haiti. However, only on the humanitarian aspect of things.

Nevertheless and "FOR THE MOST PART," I am still against NGOs and here is why? Most NGOs have been embed in Haiti for decades, yet have very little to show for their presences in HAITI due to lack of accountability and mandated scrutinies for discloser of their operations in Haiti on the Haitian government's part to demand from them progress intent and reports for their missions in Haiti. Think about it, why would these international NGOs really want Haiti to become self-sufficient when the influential nations which they are from only want Haiti to keep importing from them?

So, these NGOs roam free with ease and with a lax mentality of doing only AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE while amassing thousands of dollars in funds from the citizens of the world when it is not from the IMF, World Bank and World Trade Organizations.

P.S: Are there some NGOs actually doing some good in Haiti? Yes, I am sure! However, because for the most part these NGOs are making careers out of Haiti's ills and truly do not have Haiti's true interests at heart.

Agree about ngos completely, Afro. There will be many children alone & handicapped for years. Haitians need to build group homes, etc. and receive the education needed to care for these children so the need ( and profit) for these many foreign-run "businesses" ceases to exist. Haiti will need special ed teachers, doctors, social worker, therapists & many other trained specialists. It's not the only thing that needs to happen but these are the kinds of careers that will build a middle class; inform future politics & free the country from a good deal of foreign 'influence'. It's going to take years but it can be done.

Haiti had issues before the Earthquake. Haiti is a conflicted country, to say the least. The infrastructure isn't the only issue in need of a makeover... The Haitian mentality is at the top of list! It's unfortunate when bad things happen, the poor tend to suffer the most while the rich is unaffected... I won't make the Earthquake about a poor or rich issue because the country was affected as a whole...

Government...what government? There is no sort of leadership in Haiti. People want to be leaders when there's no heavy work load and everything is flowing smoothly! But as soon as times get though...there are no leaders in sight! Preval, anyone? His only worry was his "palaceeeeeeee", as he clearly stated on CNN.

Haiti isn't part of the United States. It stands alone. The international help has no obligations towards Haiti. They do not have to help. And believe it or not, they will not be in Haiti forever. So once the cameras and actual help are gone, who's left? HAITIAN CITIZENS...NO LEADERS!!!

Haiti has always been on crutches...barely surviving. Now, with this disaster, I believe it has crippled the country completely. Call me harsh or pessimistic...but it's REALITY. Open your eyes and understand what is going on here... Haitians need to help themselves and stop depending on outside help because there's no guarantee they'll come running every time...

Stand up against CORRUPTION. Pick EFFICIENT leaders. Organize and abide by LAWS. Change your MENTALITY.

My main point is Haiti's hope is Haiti itself. Not the US, Canadians, etc... Haitian citizens need to start helping themselves and stop depending on others. Enough begging, more brainstorming and changing the country once and for all!!!

Less talk and more action! That's what I always say.

I just think it's extremely naive of us to believe that the US will help us without exploiting us. No one is saying that the US is deeply flawed but when you check out the US' rap sheet when it comes to dealing with poor black people, it is not pretty. We need to stop thinking like beggars and also the elite (both financial and intellectual) need to start thinking that they are part of Haiti. When will we ever learn? If the international community takes our hands every time there's a disaster, we'll be like children forever, unable to stand up alone. Let's stop thinking that the international community, especially the US will do crap for our society. I hear that the Americans are already trying to control where Haitians give help. Let's not give into the beggar's idea, this self hate that we will never be able to do it alone, and that we need the strong rich white people to bail us out. I am grateful for their first response but I will never trust them to run Haiti.