By Tameka Ware
The Haitian Republic is a French-speaking country on the western side of the island of Hispaniola off the eastern coast of Cuba. The country is pounded each year by powerful tropical storms and hurricanes that originate off the west African coast, leaving tens of thousands homeless. As if the tiny, impoverished nation didn't have troubles enough, it was devastated by a monstrous earthquake in January 2010. More than 600,000 people lost either their lives or sustained injuries and one million people lost their homes. The Haiti Reconstruction effort was put in place to rebuild hospitals, roads, communications and residences that were ravaged by the disaster.
The eastern side of Hispaniola is occupied by the comparatively wealthy tourist haven, the Dominican Republic, with the largest economy in Latin America. The Haitian Republic, on the other hand, is the most impoverished country in the Americas, as determined by the Human Development Index. Better fortune may be on the horizon following the recent discovery of $20 billion in copper, gold and silver deposits tucked way in the hills. This could be just the lucky break these unfortunate people have been waiting for.
On the down side, crafty North American mining companies appear to be plotting to strip the assets right out from under the government's, and the people's, noses. Haiti Grassroots Watch, a watchdog consortium, reports covert digging and testing, backroom deals and hidden agendas that threaten to tarnish the discovery of the rich ore deposits.
Legally, these deposits belong to the nation. However, a top state geologist recently lost his job after expressing concern that, unless the government adopts tough mining laws and draws tighter contracts with outside mining interests, benefits from the ore could end up in the wrong hands.
There is more to Haiti's reconstruction program than the serendipitous discovery of gold. Haiti 2030, for example, is a two-stage plan to rebuild infrastructure and transform the country into a politically stable player in the international economy by 2030. The program entails 58 long-, medium- and sort-range projects with clearly-defined milestones. The intention is to move the country forward, not plunge it back into its poor state prior to the earthquake.
Without meaning to trivialize the human costs of the 2010 earthquake, it was a watershed for the Haitian people and could turn out ultimately to be a blessing in disguise. The Haiti Reconstruction Fund (HRF or simply, 'the Fund') represents a partnership between the UN, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank. Its brief is to support the country's post-earthquake action plan.
Haiti's recovery program is beginning to show fruit. In October 2012, it was reported that US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton and her husband, former US President Bill Clinton, attended the launch of a new industrial park located in the northeastern town of Caracol. A clothing manufacturer in South Korea is planning to locate there, creating 20,000 new jobs and erecting 5,000 new homes in the process. The United States alone has invested 124 million dollars into the new venture.
While the 'Gold Rush' is excellent news, the Haiti Reconstruction program is making healthy progress on its own. The people and their government must remain vigilant and take urgent action, however, to ensure that the country's growth is not hijacked by outside interests.
The eastern side of Hispaniola is occupied by the comparatively wealthy tourist haven, the Dominican Republic, with the largest economy in Latin America. The Haitian Republic, on the other hand, is the most impoverished country in the Americas, as determined by the Human Development Index. Better fortune may be on the horizon following the recent discovery of $20 billion in copper, gold and silver deposits tucked way in the hills. This could be just the lucky break these unfortunate people have been waiting for.
On the down side, crafty North American mining companies appear to be plotting to strip the assets right out from under the government's, and the people's, noses. Haiti Grassroots Watch, a watchdog consortium, reports covert digging and testing, backroom deals and hidden agendas that threaten to tarnish the discovery of the rich ore deposits.
Legally, these deposits belong to the nation. However, a top state geologist recently lost his job after expressing concern that, unless the government adopts tough mining laws and draws tighter contracts with outside mining interests, benefits from the ore could end up in the wrong hands.
There is more to Haiti's reconstruction program than the serendipitous discovery of gold. Haiti 2030, for example, is a two-stage plan to rebuild infrastructure and transform the country into a politically stable player in the international economy by 2030. The program entails 58 long-, medium- and sort-range projects with clearly-defined milestones. The intention is to move the country forward, not plunge it back into its poor state prior to the earthquake.
Without meaning to trivialize the human costs of the 2010 earthquake, it was a watershed for the Haitian people and could turn out ultimately to be a blessing in disguise. The Haiti Reconstruction Fund (HRF or simply, 'the Fund') represents a partnership between the UN, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank. Its brief is to support the country's post-earthquake action plan.
Haiti's recovery program is beginning to show fruit. In October 2012, it was reported that US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton and her husband, former US President Bill Clinton, attended the launch of a new industrial park located in the northeastern town of Caracol. A clothing manufacturer in South Korea is planning to locate there, creating 20,000 new jobs and erecting 5,000 new homes in the process. The United States alone has invested 124 million dollars into the new venture.
While the 'Gold Rush' is excellent news, the Haiti Reconstruction program is making healthy progress on its own. The people and their government must remain vigilant and take urgent action, however, to ensure that the country's growth is not hijacked by outside interests.
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