Haiti Help or Haiti Hoodwink?

by Jocelyn M. Goode

Young child being rescued from rubble in Haiti

Not since the levees exploded in New Orleans and caused the devastation attributed to Hurricane Katrina, have the people of the U.S. been so committed to relieving the suffering of Black people. The response to the tragic situation in Haiti exacerbated by the recent earthquake has resulted in an outpour of financial support and expressed concern. At every turn and click, there are announcements of Haitian relief fundraisers and advertisements soliciting donations. The turmoil, death and agony that millions of Haitian people are presently experiencing are pulling at our collective heartstrings. But what does all of our money and care really do to help the massive problems?

Victims of Hurricane Katrina

Victims of Haitian Earthquake

Victims of Hurricane Katrina

Victims of Haitian Earthquake

Victims of Hurricane Katrina

Victims of Haitian Earthquake

Damage done by Hurricane Katrina

Damage done by Haitian Earthquake

The country of Haiti historically has been the target of economic and political ploys led by the United States and other "first world" nations. Ever since Toussaint L'Ouverture led the people to victory against the French, eliminated slavery and made Haiti the first republic ruled by people of African ancestry in 1804, the dominating world powers have made sure that Haiti suffered. From 1915 to 1934, the United Stated occupied Haiti, as it frequently does to countries worldwide, to establish "democracy" and to put down resistances from "terrorists". However, the U.S. gave Haiti as $40 million loan in 1922 that accounts for creating a shaky financial structure in the country. Because of the hefty debt, much of the country's wealth went to paying creditors abroad rather than economic investment in Haiti.

Most of the population is undernourished, a majority of whom are children under 14 years of age.

For decades, Haiti has been one of the world's poorest and suffering nation. In 2004, the World Bank reported that the GDP per capita was $480 compared with the average income in America of $33,550. The literacy rate was 50%, life expectancy was a mere 49 years, 50% of the people were living in starvation, 40% of the population was under 14, and Haiti had the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in Latin America and the Caribbean with 4.5% of the population--300,000 people affected by the epidemic.


Where was the aid over all these years? Actually, the United States has much to do with the economic and political crises in Haiti that existed well before this latest earthquake. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank forced Haiti to drop import tariffs as a way to repay owed loans. In 1994, Haitian President Jean-Betrand Aristide made a deal specifically with the U.S. to make import tariffs between zero and 15 percent in exchange for American protection. As a result, Haitian agriculture, which was sufficient enough to sustain the nation, was no longer able to compete with cheap, lower quality imported foods arriving from the U.S. With no tariffs and taxes, Haitian products could not compete with foreign prices, causing further economic turmoil for the country. Finally in 2000, the United States cut off the $165 million in aid that Haiti received annually, claiming over 70% of the money was going to corrupt officials.

Haitian refugees heading to Florida

The list of socio-political inequalities in Haiti continues with unequal treatment of Haitian immigrants versus ones arriving from the Dominican Republic or Cuba, no direct foreign investment in Haiti and a lack of clean water and sanitation to over half the population.

Clearly, Haiti has been in need of relief fundraisers and financial support for decades. Why now, is it that people are giving so generously? Is it because the media has put the spotlight on the latest tragedy? Will the flow of money slowly subside the way it did once Hurricane Katrina and the horrors happening in New Orleans were no longer "news"? And what exactly is happening with all the money being raised? How are we able to guarantee that the people of Haiti have any type of agency in determining how they are helped?

Labadee Beach, Haiti

I raise these questions not to say that people should not attempt to help, but that perhaps they ought to rethink how they help. At this point, most of us do not have the ability nor the resources to go to Haiti and build a hospital or create the necessary infrastructure truly needed to "relieve" the ailing nation. However, our agency in this country carries a little more currency. There needs to be mobilization in our local communities which demands full disclosure of what the politicians of this country are doing each day, and where the money is going specifically. By holding the "powers that be" accountable and enacting consequences for unaccountability, we ensure that our power as citizens, not just our dollars, brings aid to the situation.

Not your typical "Relief Fund" event...

In a capitalistic society, throwing money at the problem, feels right. You can sleep at night knowing you contributed to the solution. Yet, if seeing Haiti as a stable, competitive, self-sufficient nation is truly the goal, then it will require a different kind of sacrifice from Americans. This type of action has been rare on a mainstream level in this country since the 1960's, however it is time for the masses, the everyday people, to organize and exercise their political might to bring the true change they want to see.

The real cost of sacrifice to see change. Do people still have this type of passion?

Article Sources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3522155.stm
http://www.heritagekonpa.com/archives/Haiti;s%20rice%20farmers%20suffered%20since%20trade%20barrier%20in%201994.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/cooking_in_the_danger_zone/7302535.stm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiti