After an earthquake of apocalyptic dimensions struck Haiti on Jan. 12, the international community mounted an extraordinary campaign to prevent further loss of life and ease the suffering of millions of survivors.
Thanks to a generous outpouring of international aid and assistance, along with the sweat and perseverance of Haiti’s tireless people, the rescue effort has been a major success.
The same cannot be said for the recovery. Nearly six months after calamity struck, it’s fair to ask: Where is the recovery? Even in the best of times, it’s hard to get anything done in Haiti, but that’s no excuse for the lack of urgency that has stalled efforts to move forward.
President René Préval and the remnants of his shattered government ably participated in the rescue effort, even amid the trauma of losing their own friends, family members and homes. But today Mr. Préval and his associates appear to be stuck in a rut.
More progress is necessary in a number of areas to get the recovery into high gear. That includes relocating Haitians who remain at risk from heavy rains, preparing for a necessary election and developing a vision and a strategy to guide the nation into the future.
None of this has been forthcoming.
`Paralysis in decision making’
A report by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week rightly called resettlement the
major issue facing the recovery. It said “paralysis in decision making bodes poorly for speedy resolution.” In a recent meeting with the Editorial Board of The Miami Herald, Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive conceded that even three days of heavy rains could spell further disaster and loss of life among the 1.5 million Haitians still living in makeshift shelters.
That is all the more reason for Mr. Préval to break the logjam over land policy so that Haitians living in the most vulnerable camps can be moved before a hurricane or rainstorm strikes. The government must establish priorities instead of — as Mr. Bellerive suggested to The Herald — trying to do everything at the same time, which is unrealistic.
Mr. Préval must also break another stalemate over the issue of elections. A dispute over the composition of the election commission has stymied efforts to publish an electoral calendar and get the process underway. That smacks of business — and politics — as usual.
Mr. Préval must end the dithering by forging a compromise so that Haitians and the international community can be assured that the government is committed to a fair and credible election.
Préval must be forthright
Some Haitian leaders say privately that foreign donors have been slow to deliver on promises of aid. If money is a problem, Mr. Préval should not fear to say so, and to make clear how much is needed and for what.
But he must first put accountability and transparency measures in place to reassure donors that waste, fraud and abuse will not be tolerated.
The international community is committed to working hand-in-hand with Haitians on the recovery. Mr. Préval must dispel doubts about his ability to move the country forward. He must lead energetically — or let others do it.
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COMMENT: HAITIAN-TRUTH.ORG
Mr Preval and his government did not “ably” handle the crisis after the quake.
Preval disappeared for over a week – drunk!
Prime Minister Bellerive was arrested at the border as he attempted to get into the Dominican Republic, just hours after the nation was destroyed.
Their government has been one of incompetence, and corruption on a massive scale.
Within days of the quake Preval’s daughter’s boyfriend was in the Dominican Republic supposedly spending $20.00 per unit on emergency kits. He bought time-expired material at $2.00 per unit and split $36,000,000 with Preval and Frantz Gabriel.
Preval does not want a new Electoral Council since an unbiased body will guarantee fair elections – and remove his team from power. He fears this.
Preval’s term is finished and he should not be allowed to influence the forthcoming elections.
Unless a new and unbiased Electoral Council is put in place, Haiti is headed for another avoidable disaster.
Preval cannot be allowed the possibility of installing his dynasty in the palace.
This would be a Continuity of Crime, not the Continuity of Democracy sought by the International Community.
The CEP is supposed to be independent.
With this in mind, it should not matter who is a member, since they are independent.
Unfortunately, the Preval CEPs have never been independent. They have been made up of obviously Preval oriented people.
Since his reign is supposed to be coming to an end, he should not care who is on the CEP.
A new CEP is needed if we are to have a really new governement and not a continuation of the Preval criminality.
The International Community owes us the new independent CEP after their interference that saw Preval given the presidency – with only 23% of the vote – in 2006.
The so-called dithering is not on Preval’s part. It is on the part of MINUSTAH, and the various representatives in Haiti, especially the American ambassador.
Preval’s actions are a calculated game in which he wins time, with each passing day.
Each day he gains will give him more advantage closer to the election date – November 28.
He has yet to officially declare the election .
He seems to have said that but, until a decree is issued, and published in the Moniteur…the game has not been started. Mandate is simply a word that means nothing officially.
Preval is the master of delay and learned this skill at the feet of the true master – Aristide.
Unfortunately, unlike Aristide, Preval cares nothing for the people.