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Friday, January 12, 2007

Source: The Bahamas Journal

Disaster, defeat and despair have been with the Haitian people for quite a while now.

On occasion, things have threatened to get out of control.

Happily, today we make no report about the bad news. We reference and remind all and sundry that Haiti is trying to pick itself up. As it does, it needs all the help it can get.

And so it is today that we have some good news to report concerning Haiti and the extent to which �with the help of many- it is pulling itself together.

This new information involves Assistant Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin of the Organization of American States. In this regard, we are told that this high level OAS official was gratified at the unprecedented political momentum in the Western Hemisphere in support of Haiti, and urged a more constructive focus on the Caribbean country�s development needs.

He is of the view that "too often the international community�s support fails to adequately take into account Haiti�s needs, being more concerned with "what is available in terms of resources assistance and technical support, from their perspective. It is important to change that paradigm and bring Haiti into the forefront."

Meanwhile, the Haitian Ambassador presented a detailed historical analysis of the major factors underlying Haiti�s present problems, while the Dominican Ambassador addressed, among other issues, how his country is affected by the situation in Haiti.

Developments in Haiti also have implications for our country. As such, we must always be aware of what is happening in Haiti and to Haiti.

So it is today that we take note of a story that suggests that "countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and others such as the United States and Canada, could make a vital contribution to Haiti by helping to train the Haitian National Police.

Mr. Ramdin highlighted the value of such assistance during a panel discussion at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, noting that security and governance issues are among the most pressing challenges facing Haiti.

Ambassador Ramdin stressed that for stability to prevail; the government must be able to deliver short-term results. He cited income generation and job creation, in an environment of less violence, as achievable objectives that could help create confidence in the political process.

We agree with him.

That is why we are also in full support of the role that The Bahamas is playing in this process.

As regards Ambassador Ramdin and some more of what he had to say about development assistance to Haiti, he is of the view that besides security, the OAS would also continue to focus its Haiti support program on democracy and governance as well as development issues such as tourism and reforestation.

Interestingly, the panel discussion � on "Governance and Security in Haiti: Can the International Community Make a Difference?" � also included as panelists Haiti�s Ambassador to the United States, Raymond Joseph, and the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the OAS, Roberto Alvarez. Johanna Mendelson Forman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) moderated.

There were issues that are directly related to matters that are high on the Bahamian agenda. In this regard, Ambassador Ramdin also spoke about OAS technical assistance to Haiti to address human trafficking and illegal firearms issues, saying the OAS will also continue with its civil registry project and with its support to transform the Provisional Electoral Council into a permanent body.

Ambassador Ramdin also underscored the importance of involving civil society and the private sector in these endeavors and, noting the recently established Haiti Task Force that he chairs, further explained that the OAS was in the process of streamlining its Haiti program.

We are certain that it will make a real difference in the lives of very many Haitian people. It will do so in the same way as other assistance programs now do in that distressed country.

One such involves assistance to the Haitian Police force.

Happily, The Bahamas is lending a hand.

That help � as explained by the Hon. Cynthia Pratt- is being extended by the Royal Bahamas Police Force. It involves the training of a handful of Haitian police officers.

She emphasized that the visiting officers will be introduced to this country�s community policing program. Like many people, she is convinced that as in the case of The Bahamas community policing in Haiti could play an instrumental role in the development of that country.

We are optimistic.

Things in Haiti seem to be headed in the right direction.