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Haiti Elections Could Unlock Billions from Donors

By Paul Shepard on Dec 8th 2010 12:59PM
Filed under: News, Politics, Race and Civil Rights

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Haiti Elections Could Unlock Billions from Donors


The United States and other nations who have promised to send earthquake-ravaged Haiti billions of dollars in reconstruction aid funding have been put in a difficult situation by the terrible political situation on the island-nation.

The overwhelming majority of donor nations want to get the cash into the hands of the one million people displaced from their homes to help alleviate the suffering. But getting the funding into the people's hands means it has to pass through the government's hands. And therein lies the problem.

For decades, Haiti has had the reputation as one of the most corrupt governments in the world. The administration of outgoing president Rene Preval was no exception.

The prevailing thought from world capitals was that sending billions of dollars in aid would likely mean that only millions would get to the people. The rest would stick to the hands of greedy politicians and end up in foreign bank accounts.

Of more than $2 billion in aid pledged, just $900 million has been distributed as of late November. And the U.S. hasn't sent any of the $1.15 billion it promised to Haiti.

With national elections about to conclude, maybe the international money will begin to flow.

The elections which began two weeks ago were marked by charges of corruption and balloting improprieties. But a runoff election between the top two primary finishers is scheduled for Jan. 16 and that might signal a new day for Haiti in which donor nations feel their money will be spent properly.

One thing is certain. If the new president can't win the confidence of international governments, the suffering of everyday Haitians will only get worse.




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