Investment puts Haiti in the picture
HAITI NEEDS TO OVERCOME THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INSTABILITY OF RECENT YEARS IF IT IS TO FULFILL ITS POTENTIAL AS A BUSINESS AND TOURISM HOT SPOT. THE TRUE ENGINE OF THIS RECOVERY, ACCORDING TO THE COUNTRY'S PRIME MOVERS, WILL BE THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WITH THE CRUCIAL ASSISTANCE OF OVERSEAS LOANS AND INVESTMENT

Jean-Bertrand Aristide President of the Republic of Haiti

Haiti has experienced a variety of political and economic difficulties ever since obtaining independence in 1804. The current leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide first became president in 1991 but was then almost instantly removed by a military coup. The subsequent brief dictatorship caused economic stagnation until 1994 when a democracy was installed with U.S. help. But in November 2000, allegations of rigged voting during Mr. Aristide’s re-election resulted in a total split with the opposition party, and all foreign aid was cancelled. The current internal and external stalemate is crippling the country’s economy at a time when international aid is most desperately required.

JEAN MARIE CHÉRESTAL Prime Minister of Haiti

While acknowledging the urgent need for overseas loans and investment, Prime Minister Jean Marie Chérestal feels Haiti itself needs to “come together” to solve its problems. “Our division can only lead this country to destruction,” he says, referring to the extreme gap between rich and poor as well as the lack of collaboration between the country’s political parties. Attitudes need changing, too. “We have to work hard at home to become effective on the international scene,” he observes.

Mr. Chérestal feels Haiti is misunderstood by the U.S. and the world and would like to improve his country’s image, and see it become more involved at the negotiation table. Internally he envisages a more democratic policy. “We can’t find a long lasting solution while ignoring the majority,” he maintains. “We certainly need to have a stable social and political environment that will favor investment.” Illiteracy, homelessness and unemployment are among the wider issues needing urgent attention. Agriculture, tourism and education lead the sectors that require investment. Environmentally-conscious tourism focusing on unspoilt northern Haiti aims to be the most profitable sector in the next 20 years.

The balance of trade Haiti is hoping to bring its international isolation to an end.

The Minister for Planning and External Cooperation, Marc L. Bazin, agrees that there are many misconceptions about Haiti and much negative reporting. He finds that some foreign states are more open-minded and tolerant in their view of his country than others. However, he also admits that poverty has divided Haiti and that the country is disadvantaged in comparison with the neighboring Dominican Republic, which has nickel, gold and petroleum resources as well as a thriving tourist industry. He feels that a more responsible attitude is needed on all levels to really get things moving, and sees the country’s much vaunted independence as “a means to an end and not the end itself.”

Stanley Theard, Minister of Trade and Industry, sees the primary objective as creating more jobs. “The private sector will have to be the motor of the economy,” he observes. A focus on developing micro-economic activities is required to cover basic needs such as clothing, schooling and homes. “We have started helping people to come together in small business associations,” he notes.
Though he feels Haiti has a lot to offer in the way of arts, crafts, beaches and sun, he feels self-criticism and re-appraisal are needed. He has presented an investment code to the senate, and plans to create a Free Economic Zone Code aimed at making life easier for foreign investors who “create the jobs and pump up the economy.”

Also key in this respect is the two million-strong Haitian diaspora, represented by Minister for Haitians Living Abroad, Leslie Voltaire. His “star program” is an online one-stop shop where, he says, “you can find all the information you need, fill in all the relevant forms online, and send them directly to the Ministry of Trade. So when you come to Haiti, you only have to sign the contract or visit the site.”