By Charo R. Walker
BlackFood News Reporter
THE UNITED Association of Haitians and Bahamians in The Bahamas (UHAB) – a coalition of grassroots organizations with a 15 year history – announced its plans this past Friday to give direct monetary aid to Haitians who have been affected by the earthquake and are in need of food, clothing and shelter.
At a Press Conference UHAB announced that it hopes to raise $2 million – $5 million to be distributed to individuals in direct cash increments of $100; increments are not to exceed $500. In the long-term, money raised will also be used to provide small loan facilities of $1,000 – $2,000 for cooperatives and for merchants to re-start their businesses.
So, why should we give to UHAB? In 2008 the World Bank reported that there were over 10,000 domestic and foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in Haiti; the highest per-capita concentration in the world. They occupy every possible sector of activity in Haiti; with the vast majority of the country’s social services run by them. Their budgets sometimes dwarfed that of Haitian governmental agencies and they were said to have been more influential than the Haitian government. In fact, reports claim that the Haitian government’s role has been reduced to monitoring NGOs and ensuring the inward flow of foreign investment.
With huge amounts of foreign aid at their fingertips NGOs in Haiti had, and still have, the power to destabilize any government that the US, Canada, France – the sources of their aid – disagreed with. In fact, they use the millions of dollars at their disposal to woo those who oppose the imperial powers, those who oppose the repressive United Nations forces in Haiti, and those still loyal to Aristide.
In March 2009, Montreal writer and activist Yves Enlger wrote: “Across the country’s political spectrum, Haitians have been highly critical of development NGOs role in undermining the country’s government. A couple months ago the left-wing newspaper Haiti Progrès called NGOs in the country a “mafia” and on February 5 the country’s president, René Préval, called on Washington to stop channeling its assistance through NGOs.”
With over 10,000 NGOs in Haiti, Haiti was, and still is, the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere. It makes you wonder what these NGOs were really doing and who they were helping. For many of them, their main goal was to support to the US-led occupation of Haiti. Now with these very same NGOs taking a leading role in the relief effort, for us at BlackFood.org, a warning bell has been sound.
Alongside these NGOs are a plethora of aid groups from the imperialist centres of the globe; with the Red Cross, who has been implicated in the mishandling of funds in the past, out in front. All of them claim that they want to “help” Haiti but the truth is that oppressors can’t be expected to help the oppressed. With the Haitian government already immobilized even before the earthquake, grassroots African-led solutions are what Haiti needs right now.
UHAB has already created a task force to put their program into action. The grouping has traveled to Haiti to establish concrete relationships on the ground with reputable organizations and associations working directly with persons who have been affected by the earthquake.
The task force has also compiled a list of persons who they know need aid; the task force saw, firsthand, long lines with many waiting for days to get food and water. Again, oppressors can’t be expected to help the oppressed.
And so if we know that oppressors can’t help us, we shouldn’t be giving them our resources. Instead, initiatives like Haiti’s Direct Aid Program – which has been established by a credible, African-led coalition – should be fully supported.
Monies can be deposited to the United Association of Haitians and Bahamians in The Bahamas First Caribbean Bank Account # 0201183663.♦bf