Lack of clever thinkers in the Haitian government

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I am presently in Haiti.

Although I left Haiti many years ago, I've returned regularly every year and sometimes twice a year--whether conditions are dangerous or safe. At times I stayed for several months and at other times for a month.

I've been there when everyone I know would not go and when most people thought I was crazy to go. I went there when barbwires were placed everywhere (imposed by foreigners who were treating Haitians like cattle and sometimes like manure).

I've been there when Haitians were killing each other off and acting like a people who had lost their souls.

I've been there when garbage pilled up so high everywhere that just breathing was dangerous.

Hence I'm in a good position to make observations about the changes that I see today, I can say that at a very superficial level things are slightly better in Haiti.

There's an almost comfortable sense of security, but most people still don't trust that it's real.

The streets are clean, but many of the main roads that would be taken by tourist or any other visitors are still filthy, over crowded, and clearly display the national poverty.

The bulk of the people are still within the capital and the employment rate is still so very high that those who are part of the more privileged classes still have good reason not to feel safe in their new "safer" environment.

Although I've always urged for patience with the members of this government because they seem to have good intentions, I am beginning to think that their Think Tank lacks ingenuity.

I get that this government found empty coffers when it took over, and had to move cautiously due to budget constraints.

However, there are simple steps that could be taken to make the streets cleaner, make the tourist routes more attractive, and create new jobs.

As I drove up throughout the more affluent neighborhoods and down around the less fortunate living areas, I noticed that there are some very specific things that seem to clutter the streets.

In the affluent areas it is plastic bottles of sodas and broken down cars, and in the lower regions it is those small plastic water pouches that literally cover the streets and also those useless cars. If those were dealt with the streets would be at least 85% cleaner.

These issues also need to be addressed because they are serious environmental hazards.

There are many simple ways that these mostly recycling problems could be resolved, without costing the government a huge amount of money.

Take for examples the plastic drinking stuff.

A mandate could be issued for the sale of only recyclable glass bottled soft drink containers in Haiti.

or
A fine could be assigned to companies that do not provide recycling bins for their products.

Once these bins are set up, another fine could be established for companies that don't dispose of their filled bins in due time. Finally, once all that's established, a fine could be set up for anyone who knowingly throws one of these items in the streets.

There are also more radical ways of dealing with the problem:

The government could simply have a garbage truck pick up those plastic bottles and deliver them to the yards of their real owners (the companies that distribute them).

Since in reality what the people are purchasing is the water or the soda that is in those containers, the government could claim that it is simply acting as a concerned citizen by returning misplaced properties to their rightful owners.

After the government had done it's "good citizen's" duty, it could simply sit-back and let the owners of the returned items deal with them. If the owners were to get cute and decide to move their unwanted items to an area that is believed to be inappropriate, the government could fine that company for disposing of its private property in an unlawful manner.

I'm sure there are many other interesting ways to deal with these issues, without paying a major financial cost. This government's Think Tank seriously lacks creativity and ingenuity.

There are many other creative--non expensive--ways to address certain Haitian issues.

Are there any ingenious thinkers working for this president.

Linda, September 10 2007, 8:55 PM

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