When it comes to Haiti, the media mostly show slums, deep poverty, corruption...etc... Yes, it is true Haiti has a lot of problems but not too many people seem to have a solution. Haitians are smart enough to get the country moving in a positive direction. However, we need a working model to emulate. We strongly suggest the Haitian politicians to study the Rwanda Model for Economic Growth. In addition, the Haiti politicians also need to study Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. Just like we did. The Rwanda Model consist of the following techniques: 1) Low Corruption 2) Pro Investment Policy Reforms (Foreign companies have to employ 70% Haitian workers, provide training and transfer of knowledge). 3) Special Economic Zone 4) Security (Being Able to Walk Outside at Night) 5) Regulatory Framework 6) Register Business in 6 Hours 7) Infrastructure: 24 Hour Electricity, Clean Water, Sewer and Sanitation System, Roads, Highways with Tolls. It is not safe to drink water from the tap in Haiti. The country needs to invest in a water and sewer system. 8) Performance Metrics and public administration educational courses and seminars for Government Workers 9) Accountability of moneys in each Governmental Department. Be transparent. Publish to the Haitian citizens how much money was received and how the money was spent. 10) Leadership and Clear Government Vision 11) Collecting Taxes, Tariffs and Fees 12) Agriculture Export and the Country Being Able to Feed Itself (For Haiti ORGANIC Agriculture is important vs Knowledge Base) 13) Decentralization 14) State-of-the-art Conference Center for the Region (able to receive business people from all over the world) 15) Tourism (Commercial and Eco-Tourism) 15) Property Rights - Allow the People to Own Land 16) Deforestation Solutions 17) Manufacturing 18) Technology Improvements - Telecommunication 19) Micro Lending 20) Minimize Bribery 21) Delivery of Services to the People 22) Human Capital Investment (No Natural Resources / No Land Concessions) Haiti has oil, gold, iridium, uranium etc... Unfortunately mining has negative impacts on the environment (e.g., increased possibility of earthquakes and soil/water contamination). Furthermore, will mining companies build Haiti's infrastructure??? Haiti's soil is very rich, the minerals are worth billions of dollars and theoretically Haiti can dig itself out of deep poverty by selling mining permits. But to what cost? There are other ways for Haiti get out of deep poverty and this is what we are trying to explore. Other countries may have a national plan for Haiti which may not be in our best interest. We need our own. 23) Universal Education 24) Universal Health Care (Haiti need at least one Level 1 Trauma Center and at least one Level 3 hospital in each of its 10 departments). A level 1 Trauma Center in Haiti should not be more than 130 million dollars USD and a Level 3 hospital with 300 beds should cost about 25 million dollars USD. So, under 400 million dollars USD, Haiti will have hospitals all over the country. The challenges will be the cost of equipment, preventing people from stealing the equipment and the cost of paying hospital employees. 25) Coordinating the army of NGOs in Haiti to verify if they are meeting their objectives (i.e., planting trees/reforestation - verify if they are being planted and if they are not being cut down again) How can Haiti raise money to build its infrastructure? a. Haiti does not need to do everything on its own. Haiti needs international partners to invest in the country. Haiti can offer incentives to businesses to come to Haiti. b. Fees, Tariffs and Taxes: Money Transfer Fees, Telecommunication Fees, Tourist Tax, Airplane Ticket Tax, Import Tariffs, Toll Roads, Blanket Yearly Fee on Diaspora...etc... Haiti can easily raise between 2 to 4 billion dollars per year. This is a Haitian solution which can bring 20 to 40 billion dollars in 10 years. For a small country like Haiti, in less than 10 years the country can have a decent infrastructure and will be at least out of deep poverty!!! In conclusion there are 3 main steps: *Emulate the Rwanda Model with some adjustments to fit Haiti's needs (such as focusing on agriculture, tourism, and a mixed/diversified economy) *Control Corruption *Raise Funds from Haitians Living in Haiti and the diaspora / Make it easier for investors to come in. LOW CORRUPTION AND UNITY IS KEY!!! ***NOTE: If we control corruption and follow Rwanda's Economic Model, we can have a different country in less than 10 years. As follows: Haitian money (Petro Caribe loan, fees, taxes... up to 2.6 billion per year can be raised), some foreign aid (1.4 billion dollar package from the international community has already been approved), and making it attractive for Haitian companies and international investors to come to Haiti. Can Haitians overcome its selfish mentality, stop fighting each other and work together to develop the country?

• published: 29 Jan 2018
• views: 7485