SINCE THE UNITED STATES DUMPED RICE INTO HAITI ON DUVALIER’S DEPARTURE IN 1986 THE RICE INDUSTRY HAS BECOME A $900,000,000 CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE. BEFORE, HAITI EXPORTED RICE. ANY EFFORT FOR OUTSIDERS TO IMPORT RICE, OR REVIVE THE ARTIBONITE, COULD RESULT IN DEATH.
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This is the most heinous of all US crimes against the Haitian people. This, coupled with the forced eradication of the indigenous pigs in the 1980s led to a tremendous decline in the already precarious existence of the rural poor.
What would it take to stop this? Demonstrations? Sabotage of the US rice exports? Naming and shaming? Bill Clinton admitted it was a bad decision of his to force the rice imports down Aristide’s throat as one of the conditions of restoring him to power. Yet, he never proposed doing anything about it. It would seem his solution is to herd all the people thrown off their land into sweat shop working for 3 bucks a day.
Surely something must be done to get the people thrown off the land back to the land. Moreover, real measures should be taken to improve living conditions of the rural poor such providing roads, schools, basic infrastructure but alas, I am only dreaming. All the money for that could be used for such purposes has been used to pay off the IMF, or has been bilked by politicians, wasted by misguided NGOs, etc.
Really, what is the solution? If Lavalas cannot, or is not allowed to, could Martelly do something to help the poor majority in the rural areas? Could Manigat? Could Clinton? Does anyone really care? The injustice in Ayiti cries for a just solution. Ayiti vle viv!