Haitians' Cholera Epidemic emphasizes the need for them to Contol their own Economic Development

“In light of the deadly cholera epidemic in Haiti. while huge amounts of cash and other resources are currently, and rightfully so, being directed towards Haiti…”
Dear friends,

In light of the deadly cholera epidemic in Haiti. while huge amounts of cash and other resources are currently, and rightfully so, being directed towards Haiti, it seems that an equal amount of attention and concern should be geared towards the Haitian people themselves in efforts to help them take the reins in rebuilding their nation.

People need food, for example. Now is a time to set up small cooperative food outlets that acquire their provisions from farms that are owned and operated by families. That would require some of the money that has been donated being used to develop more arable soil.

Forest gardening , for example, could be used to establish new eco-systems on the island where both fauna and flora can proliferate.

The land should be collectively-owned with a governmental body only having the role of coordinating and networking, as opposed to controlling and regulating resources in areas such as food production and home building.

Private corporations outside of the body of people who are doing the farming and building should be prohibited. This will be the start of two forms of new industry on the island.

Next, having been trained by licensed master carpenters from developed countries, Haitian workers will learn how to build earthquake-resistant buildings like those found in California. Additionally, homes and small factories could be built for producing clothes, tools, electrical goods, and so forth.

But traditional industries are not enough. There will be a need for both school teachers and college professors alike, medical professionals, and in order to maintain a civil society, there will need to be many people trained in the area of law and its enforcement.

All of the here-to-mentioned will require that the Haitian people are encouraged to recognize their inner powers like both physical and mental energy, discipline, persistence, concentration, and memory, for instance.

As well, Haitian citizens must reject becoming a possession-oriented society like ours, and, instead, start embracing value judgments that will allow them to develop genuine communities.

This process should begin on a small scale. Of course, there are already any number of Haitians there and abroad who can get this started. Now, the main problem will be to keep lecherous and rapacious North American companies from undermining genuine economic development in Haiti.

One Love,
G. Djata Bumpus