yeah right, because when strongmen ruled in haiti, it was paradise on earth.I think this is a must watch video for anyone who lives on the island of Hispaniola. The strongest thing I took away from this film were the words of the police chief at the end, " Nothing is going to solve this but a Revolution " which backups up my thoughts that nothing will change Haiti except the enthronement of another strongman - dictator - Trujillo like personage. Democracy has failed the country, the NGO's are acknowledging they have been a huge part of the problem, and to recover they are going to have to make huge changes for the entire society.
Why not take some of that money pledged and waiting and turn that into a huge public works project - create jobs for locals, the people get paid to remove the ruins, run it like a huge army. Provide security for the people and if it has to be eliminate the criminals including the economic ones. Sure, there is a loss of liberty but is that what these people really need right now? I guess my military background is showing just a tad here - lol.
Karlheinz
Why not take some of that money pledged and waiting and turn that into a huge public works project - create jobs for locals, the people get paid to remove the ruins, run it like a huge army. Provide security for the people and if it has to be eliminate the criminals including the economic ones. Sure, there is a loss of liberty but is that what these people really need right now? I guess my military background is showing just a tad here - lol.
Karlheinz
Every segment of the Frontline report disturbed me more than the next. I felt sympathy for the rape victims in the tents, anger at the escapes - then empathy for those same men when the prisons and justice system was described. To be picked up off the street for a "crime" and held up to five years before even knowing the charges awestruck me. The corruption of the leaders didn't surprise me but to learn that it was so widespread did. The business men who had to ship their families to other countries yet who refused to give up on the very nation that promotes such violence gave me a glimmer of hope.
But like previous comments posted here, the police chief training his forces while speaking of needing revolution seemed like a dire prediction.
Can there be benevolent dictators who really strive to institute rule of law and help all the citizens of a nation? I don't believe democracy could spring from a pseudo-state like Haiti. Democracies depend on previous structures and states-of-mind. Even the USA had the systems of law and structures of governance built by the British monarchy. The USA had a merchant class free to start and run business.
Perhaps the Frontline report is a prediction and the police chief will someday lead Haiti. I hope if that is true, he puts into place a system and structure that will allow that nation to transition to democracy. Like Trujillo.
Use a proxy that is based in the U.S. and you'll be able to see it.Unfortunately, people on the island of Hispaniola are not allowed to watch this video.
I too watched the PBS special on Haiti. I will preface my comments by saying it is not my intent to insult anyone especially the Dominican people who read DR1.
If they changed the title and took away the earthquake aspect this very well could have been a documentary explaining how things work in the DR.
I thought the story was very well done and covered a variety of opinions from different sectors.
They explained that while they have over 10,000 NGO's in Haiti (most of whom have been there for many years before the earthquake) that even with all the good intentions the $$ does not get to the people . The government and gangs control the $$ of the NGO's. The gangs control who gets voted into office and ONLY corrupt people can survive in politics.
A hard working Haitian woman who cooks food to sell with very little resources explained that she feels that it is never good to give people something for nothing. She explained that Haitian people need to learn how to work and earn money. They have been too conditioned for too many years to hold out thier hands for "free stuff".
She was a very wise woman in my opinion.
They did show some policemen and businessmen who can not be corrupted and I applaude thier positive attitude.
In conclusion with a system filled with corrupt politicians, gansters, non effective and non caring government. Haiti doesn't stand much of a chance for improvement with the current system in place. I see the same true for the DR.
Use the roman system:
A dictator has all the power but one year term