 |
|
||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
Haiti - Social : Mgr Dumas points out the gaps in the reconstruction and denounces the divisions 08/01/2013 11:08:54
Three years after the earthquake that struck Haiti, where is the reconstruction ? "The momentum that followed the earthquake faded. Much of the promises have not been kept. There among the people a taste of disappointment, people remained hungry. Part of the population still lives in tents [...] the reconstruction will take time. It requires more political will, national dialogue, of love for this country. We must put aside the individual interests." What is the state of mind of the population ? "Haitians have a strong resilience, but their patience begins to wane. People want a quick change and concrete. This is why there are many events in the country. There is discontent, frustration, but not resignation. The people is alive, it want to live in any case, but has not yet found a way to sit together to resolve disputes, and set the course for the future. Courageous decisions must be taken. The people expect its leaders at the crossroads. Some voices are raised to denounce the perverse effects of the presence of many NGOs in the country, which would prevent Haitians to take control of their future... As long as the country remains a republic of NGOs, it can not have its own project viable, sustainable. We will always need the help of our friends, of a fraternal cooperation, but we must all try to push the responsible of the public good to have a strong project for Haiti, in which NGOs can be integrated according to their vision and skills. Work to strengthen basic structures, local authorities, local institutions, this is essential for NGOs no longer need to 'do instead of'. We all have to win, state, civil society, NGOs, to bring leaders to assume their responsibilities and define a clear public policy." You spoke of national unity, without which nothing is possible. What are the divisions that plague the country ? The central cleavage is that existing between the urban and the rural. The question of the integration of the rural masses in the country's affairs has never been taken seriously. For a long time, these people were abandonned, left to themselves : no school, no chance to transport their local products, no support at agriculture... This is a great injustice, and it is still a taboo today. We can not continue to live in a country split in two, with one side of cities that are not longer of cities but slums, of bétonvilles, and on the other a rural country called 'country of the outside', isolated from the rest. If Haiti wants to achieve a sustainable recovery, we must ensure a better integration in rural strata. We must think of poles of development, to decentralize, by taking into account local realities. It is necessary that the central government agrees to waive to the prerogatives is the sine qua non condition for the development of the country. We should not take people towards Port-au-Prince and other cities but accompany local people where they are, from their local wealth, of their own culture. In Nippes, for example, we have many beautiful beaches, wonderful nature... It is necessary to implement a harmonious development in the respect of the ecology, ecotourism by facilitating and supporting healthy agriculture." Agriculture is a potentially very important economic lever for Haiti. Is the State has a vision on the subject ? "For over 25 years, we talk about the need to increase domestic production. In fact, it has only declined. But the country can not stand up again if we do not encourage local production. It is necessary to accompany the peasants and growers, rethink our policy of cooperation. We import rice for example of the United States, what kills the local economy. The peasants were decapitalised by several cyclones and after the earthquake : it is necessary to recapitalize these peasants, give them seeds. There is a Creole proverb that says if farmers do not grow, the townspeople do not eat. Haiti was an agricultural country, we must rely once again on that make significant investments in this sector. We do not hear a lot of commitment in this direction. This is why Caritas and its partners focus on the accompaniment of agriculture and rural animation. When a peasant starts to sell what he himself produces, we puts the future of the country in the hands of its people. It is agriculture that will put back Haiti on the path of development." What was the role of the Church in the reconstruction ? "Since the earthquake, the Haitian church was very close to the people, whether at the level of spiritual and psychological but also in concrete level. We traveled all over the country, and with our local offices, we could reach people wherever it was hit. We first worked in the emergency, brought the first aid, water, tents, hygiene kits. We could save lives, help many people affected by the earthquake. Then there was the rehabilitation phase, during which we focused on priorities such as the construction of decent housing. We also worked on education, rebuilding schools, and to provide a hot meal to each child. It is very important here because the families have difficulty feeding their children, and a malnourished child can not study. In the health sector, we have worked with UNICEF to contain the scourge of cholera, even if the disease is still there and risk of be extended due to the floods causes by Sandy. On agriculture, we have put in place in Nippes with Caritas Italy, a major project to rehabilitate the plaine d’Abrahamto increase local production. The rehabilitation phase, in which we are always, is slow : it is necessary to disburse, track projects, writing reports, finding new funds... The Church will continue to support the people. In the reconstruction, we must not neglect the reconstruction of the Man. If we help people become aware of their dignity, then a quiet strength will born, able to change the paradigms and transform the country." Interview with Msgr. Pierre André Dumas, by Marina Bellot HL/ HaitiLibre
|
|
|
|
Why HaitiLibre ? |
Contact us |
Français
Copyright © 2010 - 2024 Haitilibre.com |