Haiti's problems seem to mirror the condition of it's roads. Have you ever traveled in Haiti? Do you think Haiti's roads will be fixed once we "just do it" and get the country's situation straightened out?

200 years and no Roads?

We all agree that Haiti’s roads are in very bad conditions.  Its one of the most heated debates we as Haitians get ourselves entangled in.  Like the author of this topic stated, we point fingers at each other and blame each other for the bad conditions of our roads. 

Me Haitian101 is sick and tired of all this bullsh*t, and all the “Pale mete la” crap.  As Diasporas it’s good to share with others our culture, with our music, art, dance and cuisines.  Every day, when I read a Haitian paper or surf the net I always run across some big event that’s being organized. Were able to organize huge events that attracts millions of people, and raised millions of dollars but we are unable to come together and form a network to raised money for Haiti’s roads. 

I’m amazed how all the major Haitian web sites and papers always promote an up coming event.  Haitianconnection, fouye, Haitixchange, Sakpase, everything Haitian.coms, Haitian time, Haiti progress, Haiti en mache, and obsorvater all can link up and promote great events to raised money but nobody ever tried to raised money for the roads in Haiti.  I’ve heard of few organization having parties for each common in Haiti to raise money for a certain area, but I never see them being promoted in any of the sites and News papers listed above. 

Why in the world can’t we as the people in the Haitian community take this up is our own hands and boycott all these events until the organizers agree to organize something especially for the roads in Haiti.  As the 10^th department.  And private organization, we can do it.

Haitian 101;

It is not our job to build Haiti's roads, it is the responsibility of the government of Haiti.  And even if we wanted to; do you really think those events raise enough money after expenses to design, build and maintain any road system in Haiti.

It is not simply a question of roads; its 200 years and no schools, no electricity, no clean water, no trash collection, no clinics, no hospitals, etc.

Its deeper than that; it is national cultural lazyness and lack of cleanliness. There is no planning whatsoever. I know you might be referring to roads between towns and cities, but we need to start with the urban roads where most of the traffic is. Take a look at Haiti's cities, Aux Cayes, Okap, Gonaives, Potoprins; the only street designs are those left by the French. So for 200 years, even with the French example of city planning, we have done nothing.  People build houses along narrow passageways which later becomes streets.  Recently in Port-au-Prince, the private sector has steped in to give us Belvil and other attempts at urban design. The public sector need to do its part.

Potoprins with a natural setting unmatched anywhere in the Caribbean, looks like a pile of trash from the air.  With proper design, that city would give Rio, Monaco, San Francisco, Cape Town, and others a run for their money.

And it is a much simpler task than one might think. You simply lay down the  streets and roads even if unpaved.  Tell people where to build and where not to; any of our dictators could have done that.  When money permits, then you add the asphalt, the electricity, the fire hydrants etc.  They did it in Soweto (South Africa), outside La Paz (Peru) and many other third world countries.  These people have a vision of the future, of their cities and of their countries.

Does it take a genius to realize that the "bodme" in Potoprins should be the site of a major sea side boulevard stretching from lasaline to kafou with green areas and palm trees on both sides.  The smart thing to do would have been to keep it free of slums and factories until that time we can afford to build it even piece by piece.  Do you realize that Potoprins is probably the only major city on this planet whitout one major street or avenue or boulevard where you could take a visitor for a pleasant stroll.

Haitian 101; Your heart is in the right place, and I hear your call for action.  Infrastructure building amd maintenance however is a major undertaking and is the job of governments. That is the way it is done in all industrialized and developing countries.  So lets raise money for the goals that are achievable; building a village school, buying an ambulance, a fire truck, a small clinic etc.

kreyolbro@aol.com