Analysis: Haiti needs plenty of help

by Les Kjos

Thursday, April 8, 2004

(UPI):  It will take more than the $9 million Secretary of State Colin Powell took to Haiti with him this week to solve the island nation's centuries-old fiscal woes and civil unrest.

In addition to the $9 million that will be administered by the Organization of American States to re-establish free elections, the United States will continue a $52 million economic and humanitarian assistance program.

The United States already has given the OAS $4.9 million for its Special Mission for strengthening democracy in Haiti and $500,000 for educating the electorate.

Also under consideration is support for government efforts to maintain full observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms and to revamp the Haitian National Police.

A seven-member team of advisers also is being sent to the interim government to help with security issues.

The Washington Post commented, however, that the expenditure budgeted now is less than 2 percent of the money targeted for rebuilding Afghanistan.

Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, has more permanent plans that take a nuts-and-bolts approach. He has reintroduced his HERO bill -- the Haiti Economic Recovery Opportunity Act, which is designed to improve the economic and political situation in Haiti by promoting trade.

DeWine says his legislation would use trade incentives to encourage the post-Aristide government to make reforms while encouraging foreign direct investment.

"Haiti is the poorest country in our hemisphere, lacking both democracy and political stability," DeWine said. "The events of the last few months have drawn needed attention to Haiti, and this is our opportunity to do something about it.

"Despite the problems that Haiti is facing, U.S. assistance has reached its lowest level in over a decade, and we must change that," DeWine said.

The bill would amend the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act by granting duty-free status to Haitian-made articles of apparel.

Haitian apparel accounts for less than 0.5 percent of all U.S. apparel imports, and the bill would cap the duty-free imports at 1.5 percent in the short run. The cap would then be lifted gradually over time to 3.5 percent.

In order for Haiti to be eligible for the benefits, the president must assure Congress that the new Haitian government is making significant political, economic and social reforms.

"We stand here at a crossroads in our relationship to this fledgling country. We have the option to reach out in compassion or pull away at their time of need," he said.

"I call on my colleagues to take a step toward Haiti to bring about the changes that absolutely must occur. The future of Haiti may depend on it," DeWine said.

Rep. Clay Shaw, R-Fla., is introducing a companion bill in the House.

Co-sponsors in the Senate include Sens. Bob Graham, D-Fla., Richard Lugar, R-Ind., Max Baucus, D-Mont., Lincoln Chaffee, R-R.I., and Christopher Dodd, D-Conn.

Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide left the country Feb. 29 following months of demonstrations and an ensuing bloody rebellion in the country's northern sections.

An international force of 3,500 troops from the United States, France, Canada and Chile is keeping the peace.

Aristide charges he was forced out by the Americans who visited his residence in the dead of night, but the United States said he left for the Central African Republic on his own accord. He has since returned to Jamaica, where he is visiting with his family.

The Caribbean Community and Common Market organization (CARICOM) has called for an investigation by the United Nations, but Powell rejected the idea during his visit Monday.

"I don't think any purpose would be served by such an inquiry," Powell said. "The facts are very well known.

"It was only six weeks ago that Haiti was on the verge of total security collapse. We prevented a bloodbath and a coup from taking place," he said.

Powell said an investigation is under way to determine if Aristide was involved with drug traffickers who were moving cocaine through Haiti.

"There are inquiries being made by our judicial authorities in the United States to see if there's any wrongdoing on his part," he said.

Meanwhile, Aristide's former interior minister, Jocelerme Privert, was arrested on the basis of allegations he was behind a massacre that took place during the rebellion.

Privert was the first member of the Aristide government to be arrested, and it was not disclosed whether there would be more.

Most of the support for Aristide in the Caribbean comes from Jamaica and Venezuela.

"My government does not recognize the one (government) placed by the United States in Haiti, and we call on the other countries on the continent, as the Caribbean Community and Common Market has already done, to pronounce this," said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

On the plus side, interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue said that leaders throughout Haiti have agreed to elections next year, although a specific date has not been set.

The country's constitution calls for elections within 90 days of the departure of the last president, but Latortue said that will be impossible, and he is confident that all of the political parties would agree with him.

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