Why Is Haiti So Poor? (Pourquoi Haïti est-elle aussi pauvre ?)— Manhattan Contraria

Publié par siel sur 10 Août 2014, 09:51am

Why Is Haiti So Poor? - Manhattan Contrarian

Now, might I suggest hypothesis number 3, which is that endemic corruption and the absence of the rule of law make it nearly impossible to invest in or trade with Haiti. Let's just look at a few ...

http://rapadoo.com/2014/08/07/why-is-haiti-so-poor-manhattan-contrarian/

1 commentaire à l'article sélectionné :

Dear Author,
None of your hypotheses comes close to explaining the reason for Haiti’s abject poverty. I do not usually comment on articles posted on the Internet about Haiti. This one really got my attention. I feel the need to respond. I decided to key a few strokes in response to your piece.
I agree with most of your assessment about Haiti's current economic situation. But you seem to omit a crucial fact. Haiti, or any of the countries you mentioned, for that matter, does not operate in a vacuum. There are forces or elements that facilitate the socio economic conditions that prevail in Haiti.
The same argument could be made about the countries you eloquently featured in your piece in order to cast Haitians as losers and villains. Certainly, corruption has a lot to do with poverty in Haiti. Yet, Haiti is not only poor because of corruption. Haiti is poor because there are forces that want the country to remain that way.
Haitians cannot be corrupt, unless the conditions for corruption exist. As you pointed out, Haiti produces little or nothing of tangible economic value. If you dogged a little deeper, you would have found out that the major source of corruption in Haiti is foreign aids and political instability. A good portion of Haiti’s national budget depends on foreign aids. Since 1986, the country has struggled to achieve any resemblance of stability. Who are behind the political and economic misadventures in Haiti? Dig a little deeper and you will find out that most of the players who define Haiti's political/economic future live in your OWN backyard.
In addition, you spoke of rule of law. How pathetic! As a law person, you should know better. Laws are never set in stone. The presumption that good laws would solve Haiti’s problems is simply ludicrous. Granted, Haiti needs laws, but not just any kinds of laws. Haiti needs enforceable laws. Haiti also needs idealist law enforcers; Haiti needs leadership. Haiti does not need the kinds of leadership (e.g., Martelly and Friends, Inc.) that pay only dividends to the people who catapulted them onto power.
You also spoke of the colonial experience in a dismissal tone. You suggested that colonialism probably had nothing to do with development and you cited some African countries to illustrate your argument. I disagree with your assessment here.
Admittedly, since the end of the Cold War, Africa has been moving in a positive direction. Still, the ghosts of colonialism have not left Africa. For many countries in the sub-Sahara region, colonialism is still a current affair. Here, you clearly exposed your naivety on the subject you purported to clarify. You seem to ignore the root cause of poverty in the world, particularly in Africa.
The nascent economic progress in many African countries is not serendipitous in nature. For years, African leaders have tried and failed to bring prosperity to their lands. Today, most countries in Africa are witnessing a different economic prospect. That, in and of itself, does not or cannot explain the reason they are better off than Haiti today. It may be by design that Africa is on the right economic track.
It may also serve the interests of colonialists that certain regions in Africa are in better economic shape than, say, after the Cold War era. Arguably, globalization has changed the game of deprivation by economic means. Globalization also hinges that democratic theory is almost useless, particularly when it comes to explaining development. Many of the African countries that are advancing economically are not necessarily led by democratic regimes.
You compared Haiti with various countries in the Caribbean region as well. This was not a fair comparison. I am astonished by your ignorance. Many of the countries you mentioned, are former colonies and many are still under the control of colonial powers. Unlike Haiti, these countries are often viewed as friends, not enemies. Haiti, on the other hand, is often viewed from a lesser angle.
The effects of colonialism do not or cannot apply evenly between those countries and Haiti. In many cases, the remnants of colonialism can be a good thing, at least from an economic standpoint. Your argument in this piece is a bit condescending and very insulting. Perhaps you did not mean to debase the Haitian people. While you failed to make a convincing argument, you did succeed in vexing the Haitian within me.
For the records, I want to reiterate that Haiti is not poor because of corruption. Haiti is poor because it is part of a pervading belief. The sad reality is that people like you seem to overlook, whether deliberately or by ignorance, the fact that Haiti has never been a free country. Colonialism has damaged Haiti; colonialists will probably continue to damage the country even further. The ascension of Martelly to power is proof enough for me. That is, until Haitians understand the game.
I do not appreciate your casting of Haitians. Most Haitians do not lack ideas or the willingness to move forward. However, Haitians have little or no power over their future. Hence, what happened, happening, or will happen in Haiti is incumbent upon one factor: The "Gran Blan" factor.
Economic progress is not incumbent upon the willingness of a particular country to develop. Economic progress is incumbent upon a country’s opportunity to be part of the economic machine of the world. Sadly, Haiti has never been afforded such an opportunity. Haiti has been kept in the dark and corruption has been an instrumental tool in keeping Haitians from seeking the bigger prize. Corruption is part of the problem; it is not the problem.
For your edification, Haiti is very rich. Nevertheless, Haiti’s wealth is not in the hands of Haitians. Go figure!

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