Why are the Americans in Haiti?

Jan 27, 2010 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

The role of the Americans in Haiti is no accident. America is furthering its own national security interests by moving its troops into that country and by securing the rights to operate the airport.
The interests of the Americans are economic and political. Economically the Americans are fearful of a boat exodus of Haitians to the United States. This is why they entered the capital with such a large number of troops. They wanted to make it clear to the people of Haiti that they would not be accepting economic refugees from that country.
American military officials have made it known through the media that they will not be accepting any Haitians fleeing the disaster in that country. They have indicated that they will return any such person back to Haiti, a most cruel thing to do considering the situation in that country.
However the Americans do not wish to have an invasion of Haitians on their shores and thus have made it clear that they are accepting refugees. The military presence on the ground is intended to not only aid in the relief effort but also to ensure that the Americans prevent a massive exodus of refugees from that country.
The Americans are not opening their border to Haitians but because of the closeness of that country to the American mainland, the Americans, in order to protect this national security interest, have undertaken the task of deepening their involvement in the relief efforts in Haiti.
This is also why they have taken control of the airport and why eventually when the sea ports are up and running, we will see a visible international presence, including Americans directing security at these ports.
But while the Americans are closing their doors to Haiti, you can bet they are going to woo Caribbean countries to accept potential refugees should the situation reach a stage whereby it is necessary to relocate some of those Haitians affected by the earthquake.
It is not unforeseeable that the countries of CARICOM may be asked to accept the outflow should the safety valve be opened and refugees having to be accepted.
Who knows, the Americans may even volunteer to fund the resettlement of these refugees. But you can bet your bottom dollar that the Americans are not going to accept any refugee on their soil. They will pass that burden off to countries like those in the Region.
It is hypocritical for the Caribbean Community to be now mentioning the possibility of accepting Haitian refugees. For years now Haiti has been a member of the regional grouping but has been excluded from the free movement of persons. So even in its better times, the people of the Caribbean were fearful of an influx of Haitian professionals and other workers taking away their jobs.
So did it have to take an earthquake for all of that to change and for the region to allow Haitian workers to come and work in the Caribbean? Or is the Caribbean only contemplating allowing temporary resident status and not the free movement of persons or skilled workers from Haiti?
It is doubtful whether the Haitian crisis will test regional integration. Haitians are not that eager to come to the Caribbean. There are greener pastures further north but these are being heavily ringed and its doubtful whether entry can be easily had.
America knows that should it open its borders, it will be subject to a tsunami of refugees and thus it will be prepared to work along with the French and European to have a massive reconstruction programme which will create a demand for jobs and thus lessen the pressures for exodus from Haiti.
Haiti has to be rebuilt and rebuilt quickly. And this will create tens of thousands of jobs. The economy also has to be re-primed and the Americans will be moving quickly to get businesses re-started.
Once this gets going, it will help restore some normalcy to that country. The Americans know that this will involve a substantial commitment from their government but they prefer this than having an influx of refugees.
The second interest for the American military presence in Haiti is political. The Americans are wary of growing Venezuelan and Cuban influence in that country. Even before the earthquake, the Cubans have hundreds of doctors working in rural Haiti. By controlling the airport the Americans are effectively controlling what gets in and what gets out.
Even a delegation of regional leaders was denied entry to Haiti when they went on an assessment mission. But many believe that the Americans are really interested in limiting Venezuelan and Cuban assistance to that country.

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