Haiti: between optimism and the harsh reality
January 12th
marks the second anniversary of the earthquake that devastated Haiti. With its passing, new concerns have arisen
regarding the allocation of funds for the country's reconstruction.
Le
Nouvelliste, citing
the American website Counterpunch.org,
has reported that very little of the 3.5 billion (USD) in aid given to Haiti has been
utilized. Specifically: "Nearly two
years after the earthquake, less than 1% of the $412 million in US aid meant
for rebuilding Haiti's infrastructure has been spent. That number should be closer to 12%." Similar reports and more can be found on the
website of PBS,
the American Public Broadcasting or on the CBC
web site. Another site to look into: USAID.
For the
individual Haitian, the news is as bleak.
Le Matin
reports that as of August 19, 2011, the group World Organization for Migration
indicates that the refugee camps show a decrease in population of 61% with the
number of camps falling below a thousand. A disturbing amount considering the
number of those deemed homeless has only decreased by 6,000 with a remainder
594,000 people.
Wilson Jean, a
native Haitian, now living in Sherbrooke,
conveys his view in La
Tribune that the current Haitian government may not be morally fit to
manage the enormous allotment of funds for the refurbishment of this
country.
For its part, the Catholic Church is doing what it
can to help in the reconstruction.
According to a
June 2011 report by the Archdiocese
of Montreal (in French), the work done in collaboration by various
religious communities has been remarkable. There is basic care provided by the French Canadian and Haitian Jesuits on
the border of the Dominican Republic, as well as pastoral and educational
services in the capital of Port au Prince.
In December, a delegation of Development and Peace (D&P), went
in Haiti.
In its report, the organization mentions that the
Haitian National Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace has one of the
strongest to voice criticism of government's reconstruction programs,
denouncing it as corrupt. (Commission épiscopale nationale Justice et
Paix, in French and in Créole).
Unfortunately,
there is little information on the archdiocese website of Port-au-Prince. However, up-to-date information is available
on Radio
Soleil, a media supported by the Catholic Church.
On this second
anniversary, the words of Mrs. Conceptie Gervé, pastoral agent in
Côte-des-Neiges area, originally from Haiti, incapsualizes the sentiment
of caution and hope.
"To see in this deadly earthquake an opportunity
could be shocking to more than one. The reality is that to deny this as an opportunity,
or to act upon the situation with questionable motivations, it to strengthen the
bases that are crippling the democracy we already have, making this country dependent.
May the memory and the conscience of the People awaken, so as to become active
participants in their own new future."
Web links
In the Gazette, a report on
the situation in Haiti
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Haiti+turning+point/5965362/story.html
A Haitian view of Haiti... from the
State of New-York
http://www.haitiantimes.com/
'Mini-historic' of the
Catholic Church presence on the island (french)
http://haiti-reference.com/religion/catholique/
Discover the Bible in creole,
one of the two languages in Haiti with French
http://www.kreyol.com/creole-bible/bib-la.html
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