2. We cannot have recovery without access to credit beyond the housing market. We need to establish a "Recovery Fund" as well that would provide micro-credit loans to the informal sector of the economy to start small businesses or assist the existing medium sized businesses to expand or rebuild. Haitian cooperatives were successful in the past, and this model could be used to launch such a micro credit program. I am positive the Haitian Diaspora community would be receptive to this idea if we could find an organization like the Grameen Bank to set it up and provide guidance to manage it.
Taken together, these two initiatives would make a significant contribution to not only addressing the immediate housing crisis but they would also address the longer term issues of building up a business sector in Haiti that can ultimately drive recovery and growth. Most importantly, this is something that would actually help the Haitian people and businesses rather than go towards building up NGOs
Franck: And so you believe that the international community should focus its efforts on addressing the housing crisis?
Stanley Lucas: That should be one of the main focuses. I also believe the international community has a strong role to play in infrastructure, capacity building and education as well. Clearly, Haiti's infrastructure took a massive toll during the earthquake and will need rebuilding. These types of large scale construction projects will also provide short term employment opportunities for Haitians. And for Haiti to get on a sustainable path to development, education must be a priority. Before the earthquake only 40% of Haitian children had access to schooling and I can't imagine what the percentage is now. We need schools, teachers, supplies, computers you name it. This is an excellent sector for international support and I know that the international community, including the US military has been supportive in a small way this area.
As you know 83% of educated Haitians are currently overseas there has been a significant "brain drain". With the support of the World Bank and the Inter American Development Bank, a program could be set up to repatriate these Haitians to the public and private sector as well as civil society. In addition, the reconstruction could be more effective if 60% of the NGO's expatriate staff were Haitians nationals or Haitians that was born or naturalized in the NGO's home country.
Franck: There has been much discussion about the urgent need for new leadership in Haiti particularly given the expiration of President Preval's term in February 2011. The international community led by the UN and supported by the US Senate has pushed for November elections to move forward. Given the situation in-country now and the urgent need for a new, more competent government, what is your view on the timing for elections?
Stanley Lucas: I agree that due to the fact the current regime is corrupt, discredited and completely unable to provide any support to Haitians, we need a democratic transition now. However, there is no electoral infrastructure to support elections this coming November and more importantly, there is no way to guarantee security to the Haitian people.
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