While the Montreal Conference on Haiti came up last month with a projected US$10 billion aid plan over five years, the Inter-American Development Bank, in its latest assessment, has declared that the level of economic assistance could require at least US$14 billion for what it has categorised as, proportionately, “the most destructive natural disaster of modern times…”
During their respective visits to Haiti last week, Canadian Prime Minister Harper announced a US$555 million reconstruction aid package over five years; and France’s President Sarkozy promised US$378 million in assistance.
That disclosure, in Port-au-Prince, prompted the Jamaica-born regional economist, Dr Norman Girvan to juxtapose, on his website that focuses on Caribbean political economy, Sarkozy’s announced US$378 million aid with the estimated US$22 billion (repeat billion) owed by France as compensation to Haiti for the demands made for recognition of Haitians independence.
“The indemnity imposed by France,” Girvan noted in a media statement to coincide with Sarkozy’s visit to Haiti, “condemned the Haitian people to a cycle of indebtedness, environmental degradation, and underdevelopment from which they have yet to recover…
“And if President Sarkozy were to make the restitution, in the name of all the decent people of the French Republic, for this historic wrong,  and support the efforts of the Haitian people to rebuild their shattered lives and economy, he would undoubtedly gain the respect of the entire world and be a prime candidate for the award of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2010…”
Sarkozy does not seem to be in such a courageous mood. Just think of the announced US$338 million aid from Haiti’s former ruthless colonizer, compared with the level of interest shown and financial help already committed by, for example, Canada.