This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.
As a result, "a dramatic power imbalance (exists) between the international community, under US leadership, and Haiti. (It) monopolizes economic and political affairs and calls the shots." Haiti's oligarchs "also bear great responsibility for the abysmal conditions of the country before the earthquake," created "in close partnership with foreign governments," notably America and international lending agencies.
The Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC), co-chaired by Bill Clinton and Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive, effectively displaced Preval's government by setting reconstruction priorities, favoring corporate America, not displaced Haitians.
This far, IHRC has done little, dispensing less than 10% of the small amount of pledged aid delivered, rebuilding the international airport and clearing major urban arteries. Moreover, of over 1,500 contracts let worth $267 million, Haitian firms got only 20 worth $4.3 million. American companies got the rest, almost exclusively using US suppliers.
More is planned to make Haiti more than ever a colonized sweatshop, its people, the region's poorest and lowest paid, exploited as near-slave labor. As a result, said Dupuy:
"Whatever new government emerges from the recent, though flawed, elections will not change that basic reality."
In fact, Haiti's new government is being chosen, not elected, to assure it, institutionalizing Haitian impoverishment, depravation, exploitation, and repression of resisters. A year later, Haitians find little to celebrate, knowing worse likely lies ahead, courtesy of US corporate predators and complicit Washington officials, plundering Haiti ruthlessly.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at Email address removed. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/ .
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
1
