that will please donors at the March 31 meeting. Yet, the US and UN are pulling the main levers of this monstrosity and the amount of control Haitian leaders will have remains a question.
Haiti reconstruction plan highlights
Here are the highlights of the Haiti reconstruction plan expected to be presented at a March 31 international donor’s conference in New York:
• The creation of an Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC) by a vote of parliament to oversee how and where billons of dollars of aid flowing into Haiti are spent over the next 18 months.
• The commission would exist for 18 months and its decisions would be guided by a 20-member board of Haitians and foreigners whose voting members include donors that have given either $100 million toward Haiti’s reconstruction over the next two years or $200 million in debt relief. The board will review and approve projects regardless of the funder.
• The commission would be co-chaired by Haiti’s prime minister and an international figure involved in the recovery process. The president of Haiti would retain veto power. The chairs would be supported by an executive director, who manages the day-to-day operations. Haiti is expected to offer Bill Clinton, the former U.S. president and now U.N. special envoy to Haiti, the job as co-reconstruction czar.
• A key role of the IRHC’s mandate would be to support the establishment of a Haitian Development Authority (HDA) that would plan, sequence and coordinate projects over 10 or more years in redeveloping Haiti. Haitians involved in the HDA would have worked alongside foreigners on the commission — and eventually take over their task once the commission morphs into the HDA. • All projects — from a school to hospital, regardless of the funder — would have to go to the IHRC/HDA for approval to ensure that they fit well with Haiti’s master plan and vision. Foreign donors or nongovernmental organizations would no longer be able to build what they want without Haitian approval.
• Once fully operational, the HDA could be chaired by a well-respected and senior Haitian government official, who would oversee the daily operations of the HDA and would report to Haiti’s prime minister.
• The task of the IRHC, and ultimately the HDA, would be the initial implementation of a Haiti Development Plan, which would be presented and endorsed at the 2010 Haiti donor conference. Haiti’s government has said it needs $34.4 billion to redevelop the country over 10 years. This includes the $11.5 billion in post-disaster needs assessment.
• Multidonor Trust Fund: This will be one more mechanism for donors to channel funding for Haiti’s reconstruction, allowing resources to be pooled for large projects. These projects would also have to be approved by the IRHC/HDA. The fund will be managed by the World Bank with the Inter-American Development implementing the construction.
• To address transparency and construction concerns, the IRHC/HDA would be complemented by an independent audit authority and a communications office.
Source: U.S. State Department concept notes on creation of the Haiti Development Authority and interviews with individuals familiar with the proposal.
Jean-Max Beauchamps
March 25, 2010
Why can’t we just get rid of the entire Haitian Government all together? haven’t we had enough of their crap? what have they done? they want to be part of it because of the money that’s all
Jean-Max Beauchamps
March 26, 2010
Not too long ago couple of schools have collapsed they were just sitting on the sideline relying on the US and others to do something for them. Now the whole country has collapsed and all of a sudden they have the resources, they want to be in charge of reconstruction. How in the world are you able to manage the reconstruction of an entire country when you are incapable of managing one collapsed school? well I guess the haitian government can only manage large scale projects where there is lots of money involved and anything small where there is no money will be left to the foreigners. would you guys please step aside and let the reconstruction plan begin.
magbana
March 27, 2010
Well, you could get rid of the Haitian government and let the two pro-consuls, George Bush and Bill Clinton, run the country. Problem is that between Bill Clinton’s neoliberal and immigration policies and George Bush’s coup which removed the only democratically-elected president Haiti has ever had and resulted in the killing of 8,000-10,000 people, be careful what you wish for.