From: Lance Durban <lpdurban@xxxxxxxxx>
Hi Amy Wilentz, and my compliments on your latest efforts in "The
Nation".
You got a lot right, but also missed plenty and probably need a return
trip to Haiti pick up the loose threads. OK, I know nothing about the
young Duvalier, who has little to no following in Haiti as far as I
know, but there is definitely some "dark money" fueling the present
unrest. You seem to acknowledge that possibility, but then don't delve
into it at all. My guess is that a good part of it hinges on
electricity in Haiti... some of the private suppliers are upset by
Jovenel's efforts to bring in foreign money (read: Taiwan and possibly
even China) to, potentially, run them out of business. Foreign aid
money is seen as "free" money, while funds in the private sector have a
cost tied to interest rates and are subject to exchange rate
fluctuations. Granted, Moise has proven a terrible communicator and
poor manager... to the point where a lot of serious people in Haiti have
given up on him. Only problem is, there really is not much of a viable
alternative out there. Haiti's George Washington has yet to appear.
Personally I get rather annoyed at all of this good "advice" from
Haitian-Americans. Heck, they jumped ship and shouldn't have a voice at
this point, as far as I am concerned. Oh yeah, they send remittances!
Good luck with that, Haiti.
Look forward to seeing you on your next trip to Haiti, Amy, but hope you
will remember to take off those rose-tinted glasses as regards the poor
masses once in awhile. And as for Washington's interest in what's going
on Haiti now? Hah! With Ukraine, Syria, and Impeachment, my guess is
that even the U.S embassy in Port-au-Prince has trouble cutting through
the Trumpian confusion dominating Washington these days.
Lance Durban
Ref:
https://www.thenation.com/article/haiti-protests-petrocaribe/
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