Basic requirements for Haiti economic independence

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It is a given, the Republic of Haiti is known as the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, however poverty in Haiti is not a permanent situation.

Haiti can change for the better and in due time Haiti and all Haitians living on her territory will change if they manage to solve permanently the following 7 (seven) basic problems faced by all nation-states.

All other problems can be solved according to their priority.

1) Malnutrition
2) Illiteracy
3) Healthcare
4) Housing
5) Roads
6) Water resources
7) Electricity

Malnutrition.

According to known studies, most Haitians living in Haiti are either malnourished, undernourished or on the brink of starvation.

To function properly all humans need about 2500 calories per day. In Haiti the average calorie intake is about 1500 or less. The basic calorie intake requirement is met by almost all developped countries, such countries understand the need for well developped agricultural system.

They promote also good nutrition or balanced diet among their people.

Haiti has about the same land proportion with the State of Maryland and the country of Israel.

Just like Maryland and Israel Haiti can become self-sufficient by producing basic agricultural foodstuffs.

This fact is known by all experts in the field of agriculture.

Currently, Haiti is importing a lot more than it produces.

Unless this situation is reverse drastically, Haiti will remain poor.

Illiteracy.

The Republic of Haiti is basically a creole speaking country.

Creole derives from old French.

Creole is spoken by 100 percent by all Haitians, however, very few Haitians know how to read and write their own language properly.

Those who attend school learn everything in French, true French is a beautiful language, but it does not express properly the soul and the needs of the average Haitian, therefore does not facilitate good communcation among Haitians.

Since only a minority of Haitians can afford to go to school, as a result up to 60 percent of them do not know how to read and write.

As you know, a mind is a terrible thing to waste.

It takes only 5 years of schooling to become adequately literate, that is, to be able to read and understand basic instructions thereby become more productive in society.

Haiti can wipe out illiteracy just like Cuba.

Healthcare.

Currently, there is only 1 (one) medical doctor for about 8,000 Haitians in Haiti.

Hospitals are located mostly in large urban areas, whereas up to 60 percent of all Haitians live in rural areas.

Haiti needs to train a lot more medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other related professioinals in the healthcare industry.

It could be too expensive to have hospitals in all rural areas, however clinics, dispensaries and other basic healthcare institutions should be located throughout the country.

Such healthcare institutions do not have to be publicly owned or managed.

The private section to include religious institutions should be encouraged and given necessary incentives to provide for the healthcare needs of their population.

Housing.

The government of Haiti needs to develop and enforce laws related to civil engineering and zoning.

The country needs an adequate number of good civil engineers who respect the law, Their work should be periodically evaluated to ensure professionalism.

Those mud huts or indequately built ciment block houses should become a thing of the past. Responsibilitis for zoning should be under the auspices of the communal administrator with adequate staff to enforce the law. As much as possible townhouses and appartment style buildings should be built, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas.

Roads.

Roads in Haiti should be paved with minimum potholes.

New roads to connect the whole country should be built.

Such roads are vital for economic development.

They facilitate rapid transfer goods and services throughout the country.

Haiti can benchmark the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.

A cadre of professional civil engineers should be in place to ensure the roads are regularly inspected and properly maintained.

Water Resources.

According to a study done by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in Haiti 90 percent of all water resources are wasted and washed away to the sea. The government of Haiti should actively encourage the construction of artificial lakes throughout the country.

Those lakes should be strategically located to serve the needs of all communal sections.

Safe potable water and enough water for irrigation and recreation will become available using the artificial lake system.

Remember when it rains in Haiti it pours.

So let us not waste water given to Haiti by mother nature plentifully, particularly during the hurricane season.

Electricity.

Haiti is a tropical island with plenty of sunshine, enough wind and plenty of water to develop a robust electrification system.

Such system doesnot have be publicly owned.

Some of the artificial lakes mentioned above could provide hydropower wherever needed and appropriate just like peligre.

Appropriate laws concerning power generation and distribution should be developped and enforced.

By solving the 7 (seven) basic problems above, Haiti will provide enough gainful employment to at least 25 percent of her population.

Finally, Haiti would be on her way to change her nickname of poorest nation of the Western Hemisphere.

The ideas above are submitted for distribution.

They are written by Franz Stuppard, Advisor on Haiti, Washington, DC. For additional information contact me at fstuppard at yahoo.com

F Stuppard, August 12 2009, 8:03 PM

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