Haiti and the MDGs

It is clearly stipulated as the first point of the Millennium Development Goals that hunger and extreme poverty should be eradicated. But in stark contrast to that particular goal , Haiti has gone through the fastest liberalisation process ever. So Haiti is the poorest nation in the Americas, but one of the most open economies in the world. How do we explain that to the new generation of Haitians who are engaged in research and keen observation of economic trends? How in the world does this make any sense when we consider that one of the main agricultural products of Haiti is rice. Haiti is a producer of rice, yet some time around 1995, Haiti cut import tax on rice from 35% to nearly 2%. No need to ask for the origin of that decision, we all know that it was the result of international bullying. “Accept it or forget it”. Yet the same super-nations that push such policy in Haiti’s throat are the ones that are constantly talking about the millennium development goals.Rice farmers in Haiti were sent to hell with their productions while cheap imported rice continued to invade the country. The only way the development goals will work in any country is if and if only the poor nations are given the space necessary to build their own economy with adaptable policies along with strategies that take into consideration the voice of the peasant. It is absolutely absurd and unsustainable to pursue development through the lens of international aid which often does not reach the poor, which often has nothing to do with the poverty that reigns in poor countries. We are plagued with cross-conditional agreements that stand on the way to real development. This is why we continue to see small projects after small projects that have nothing to do with development as it is known in the developed world.
Development for poor countries seems to suffer from a lack definition, in the sense that when one considers the extent of the conditions that prevail and the size and types of the projects undertaken one should ask what development are we talking about? What exactly do we seek to achieve? If the development goals are working elsewhere,there is no sign that they are making head-ways in Haiti.
Haiti is a nation essentially agricultural,yet suffers from a current severe food shortage. We cannot engage the nation in development without first acknowledging the need for an ownership of its economy.This means empowerment:help them build their agriculture and allow government to implement policies that can accommodate such goals.
I wish Haiti well with the MDGs and let us pray that the Government of Rene Preval continues to promote stability and regularise the institutions. We know that our institutions have been destroyed by the latest wave of violence with the eviction of president Aristide. Again the MDGs are not possible without strong institutional backing ,so with that I think it might take another decade before Haiti can see real result on the ground.
Louinel JEAN