16173: (Hermantin) Miami Herald-letter to the Editor-Haiti needs long-term strategy (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Posted on Tue, Jul. 22, 2003

IN RESPONSE
Haiti needs long-term strategy

IN RESPONSE

Re the July 16 story $50 million unfrozen for Haiti: Haiti's well-wishers
must take heart in the news that $50 million has been released for the
poorest country in the hemisphere.

At the same time, we must be realistic and acknowledge that aid, divorced
from a long-term strategy to build democratic governance, will be wasted.

The World Bank reported last year that donors' projects in Haiti had failed
due to poor governance. As the regime ratchets up repression to stay in
power, it will find ways to divert funds to purchase SUVs for its enforcers,
pay U.S. lobbyists and buy the next election -- should it ever take place.

There is more aid to Haiti available by building good governance than by
paying all the lobbyists in the world. To be effective, aid must support a
mechanism that can hold free and fair elections.

Neither aid denial nor blind aid will make a difference. Smart policy will.
There's no other way to help Haiti.

JAMES R. MORRELL

Executive director,
Haiti Democracy Project

Washington, D.C.

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