As families in Haiti dig through rubble for survivors, their government must send money overseas. Even in the wake of the earthquake, Haiti’s obligation to pay off $600 million in unfair debt racked up years ago by corrupt governments and unscrupulous lenders still remains.
After the 2004 tsunami, debt payments from countries like Sri Lanka were suspended to ensure that funds flowed to urgent priorities like food, water, and medicine. Haiti’s crisis is no different — it shouldn’t be asked to send money out when it desperately needs resources flowing in.
At a moment like this, global financial institutions won’t be able to ignore a worldwide outcry. Help lift a massive burden from Haiti’s ability to rescue, recover, and rebuild. So along with raising money, let’s raise a million voices for emergency debt relief for Haiti.
Even before the earthquake, Haiti was one of the world’s poorest countries due, in part, to a legacy of unjust debt stretching back to France’s demand for reparations after its 1804 revolution.
In recent years, the tremendous worldwide campaign for debt relief has shown the power of public pressure to support poor nations. Guyana has been a beneficiary under HIPIC. But today, Haiti is scheduled to pay $10 million in 2010 to the IMF and Inter-American Development Bank, and still more millions to specific lender countries.
Recovering from the earthquake will take years, even decades. As the headlines fade, donations will slow, but the burden of paying debts incurred by unelected governments will continue, unless we take this moment to make a change. Demand of the IMF, the World Bank, the IDB and other lenders that they cancel Haiti’s debts. All of it, please.
AFC supports the Red Cross efforts too
The Alliance For Change regards as unfortunate and most unbecoming the dismissive manner in which Minister Priya Manickchand treated the Guyana Red Cross and its head, Ms. Dorothy Fraser, when that reputable organization took the principled stand that it will continue, separately, its work of collecting donations and contributions for the relief effort in Haiti.
The AFC supports the Guyana Red Cross in its efforts at a national mobilization for relief to Haiti, just as it supports the Government’s efforts headed by Minister Manickchand. More hands make lighter work.
There is every benefit of working along with the Guyana Red Cross as that institution’s international networks and capacity to arrange for money and material to get to the final destination, Haiti, in an accountable and expeditious manner is far superior to that of the Government of Guyana. That institution has history, integrity and experience on matters of relief efforts. These assets must not be denigrated simply because the Government of Guyana loves to be in total control.
End.
For more information contact:
The Alliance For Change
226-0181
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