Caricom Chairman insists trade not aid will help Haiti’s recovery

Mar 28, 2013 News

Still grappling to recover from a massive earthquake which ripped through its atmosphere in 2010 destroying homes and lives in the process, the Caribbean territory of Haiti has been the recipient of immense humanitarian aid.
However, quantifying this assistance is a near impossible task, as according to President of the Republic of Haiti, Michel Joseph Martelly, “how much money was spent? A lot…how much we don’t know!”
President Martelly remarks were forthcoming as he addressed a recent press conference at the Turkeyen, Guyana Caricom Secretariat to which he was appointed chairman on January last. Martelly who was elected President in 2011 will serve in the Chairmanship capacity until June of this year.
The Caricom Chairman; was at pains to emphasise that his tenure will be one which seeks to advertise Haiti not merely as an earthquake devastated territory but as one filled with investment opportunities.
He explained that since the catastrophic earthquake, which reportedly had a 7.0 magnitude with an estimated 52 aftershocks measuring 4.5 or greater, numerous measures have been put in place.
More than 200,000 were reportedly killed and too numerous buildings including residences and commercial buildings collapsed as a result of the disaster. “I would say right after the earthquake the world focused on Haiti’s situation and because it was a major catastrophe nothing was organised. As Haitians we were not ready for such a catastrophe… we never lived it before.”
He said that the territory’s construction code, or the lack thereof, did not help the situation in any way. This has however since been addressed informed Martelly informed.
Since the devastation was so great, aid came without any type of organisation, he said. But was the support enough? President Martelly insisted that “if we had been more coordinated we would have been able to show results…but at first it was a matter of saving lives, feeding people (and) giving them water.”
The state of affairs today sees Haiti existing in two situations whereby all of the monies that were promised have not been delivered while at the same time immense efforts are being engaged to amplify that the territory is not merely aid-dependent.
“We are taking this as an opportunity to get out of aid, donation assistance and we are showing the opportunities that this major catastrophe is offering to investors.”
Moreover, it is Martelly’s expressed optimism that enterprises from the Region can today visit Haiti, “not as a country that has been hit by an earthquake where people are dying and crying” but instead; see it as an opportunity to help re-invigorate the energy and agriculture sectors.
He is also hopeful that this type of support would cater to needful reconstruction adding that, there is still a crucial need for airports, roads and buildings.
“So these are things that can be done…we will create jobs because what we really want is to create jobs for our people so…no, the money promised has not been allocated, the money that has been allocated the Haitian government did not get to ourselves so today we cannot say exactly how much.
“We cannot say what was done and fortunately we cannot say we are responsible because we were not organised; we did not ourselves get this money on hand to do things.”
As such it is the firm belief of President Martelly that Haitian must come to the realisation that instead of humanitarian aid but rather collaboration that will heal the wounds of Haiti. “So today we are telling Haitians only we can change Haiti and it is not through aid it is through trade.”

Pic name Martelly
Caption: President Martelly (L) greets Caricom Secretary General, Irwin LaRocque during his recent visit to the Caricom Secretariat

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Caricom Chairman insists trade not aid will help Haiti’s recovery

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