A pro-business fund that was under the leadership of Presidents Clinton and Bush I in the aftermath of Haiti’s devastating earthquake nearly three years ago ceased operations on 12/31/12.  It spent $54.4 million which was raised from businesses, organizations, and individuals.

 President Obama asked the two leaders to lead private fundraising efforts – initially for immediate relief and then long-term reconstruction projects that sought to create jobs.  The goal was to wean Haiti from aid dependency and help develop the country’s private sector.  The money was  awarded to 50 private enterprises which involved long-standing development practices such as a micro credit bank or apparel manufacturing.  

Some of the money was given to an insurance company, for a project that seeks to introduce mortgages to low-income families and a nonprofit for solar energy.  They did build a 10-story hotel building that will include an art gallery, three restaurants, a commercial bank, and shops.  The hotel seeks to raise the standards of the country’s hotel industry by training workers.  The silly question is, where is the accounting for the money spent?  The donors deserve this!

After reviewing these pictures, why didn’t Clinton and Bush save money for this blight?  It is sad that the fund did not support brick and mortar reconstruction or agricultural projects which is the heart of the people.  A $75,000 home would have been a drop in the bucket for each of the families and training them to responsibly live and take care of it would have been a boost for the people.  Agricultural projects would have been a boom with the climate, jobs, and food.  What were they thinking?  

Would you want to live in this hell hole? 

kommonsentsjane