MrDom

Honestly, I think YoSoy.... is a little out there. Reluctantly, I must agree with your comments. But i do feel that if haiti could be up to par with the Dominican economy if it was to remain stable and have a PLAN to Educate the population and create a better infrastructure. Haiti was once the richest colony in the western hemisphere. I doubt it will be the richest country in the Western Hemisphere, but i think haiti can definitely make big strides and have a strong economy like DR. But for this to be accomplished, there must be GOALS in bettering the country amongst the people. That has not been set yet, and i believe Haiti needs a good leader to get that ironed out amongst the population. I am not having big dreams, but judging from the history of most latin american countries, all it took was a good leader to steer a country in the right direction. A good example in recent years would be Peru and Costa Rica. If Haiti would remain stable and have key GOALS in bettering the country haiti will be right up there with DR. There's definitely an abundance of labor in haiti, haitians are pretty hard workers, and haitians can master many languages when it comes to Call Center which may happen in the distant future if the country steers itself to the right direction. The goal of being one of the top economies can definitely be accomplished. L'union c'est la force. Unity is Power, if there's unity a lot of things can happen. I think haitians will need this to make a strong economy possible in the future. Moreover, a stronger economy would help the Dominican economy, and help DR deal with less migrant workers crossing the border. To be honest, I am sure haitians would rather be on their side of their island if a stronger economy would arise. I am sure, Dominicans will deal with less migrants crossing the border, and the bad relationships amongst haitians and dominicans may start healing. For now this is a dream, but it can definitely turn into reality with Goals for the betterment of Haiti, as opposed to the elites and politicians.

NY4life,


I am glad that you are willing to learn more about your neighbours in a positive manner rather than letting stereotypes and mis-information cloud your judgement. I think Hay explained the general view of how haitians perceive the DR. I think alot more haitians know alot about the DR and have many haitian businesses since call RD home away from home. I think if I posted the companies haitian nationals own in the DR most of you would drop your jaws to the ground and there are also many dominicans with business in Haiti.

The life in haiti is like a typical life in all the caribbean. Kids get up eat breakfast with family which the servant prepared and also the caretaker have their uniform ironed. The father usually reads the newspaper and off to work while the mom go run errands and then to the beauty parlor or some women gathering. There is always some fundraising for the needy. Life in haiti is great if one can afford it and have the means.

Regarding anonymous I have to agree that it will take a leader but one that will bring all of the classes together for one cause. The betterment of Haiti and corruption is the number one problem. Nobody wants to pay taxes and everyone wants to get over. There are but so many people that can get over before it begins to overwhelm the society. Another issue in haiti is that centralisation has caused port-au-prince to become a ghetto where people from the province build make shift homes and bring down property and have informal business on the streets. Even petion ville have been afected by this. I would move all those people la ville with one area where the can conduct there business. The government needs to de-centralise itself and not solely make everything available in port-au-prince.

A big problem I have is the border control and re-instate the army. Alot of families were hurt when Aristide dismantled the army which at the end toppled him of his high horse and have cause un-organise crime which is a big problem. It will take a leader that will bring all political parties together and alot sacrifices must take place. One thing I noticed in the DR is they have alot of dominicans with good technical background but there isn't enough padrinos with connections to get the a decent job. One thing I would consider is having this dominican tech come work in Haiti to support our shortage. Infrastructure is a no brainer and the haitian government needs to find a strategy to have all those now very experience construction workers in the DR to come build roads in there own country. If you look at all of the advancement in the DR haitian laborers are the essence of its modernisation. Only if we can deflux the immigration towards the DR and both government sort out the stateless people which should force a campaign to provide every citizen with a birth certificate and identity card. And death sentence for kidnapping and robbery. Zero tolerance on crime. Have all prisoners do pick up all the garbage and keep the city clean. I have been to a few south american country. One in particular had some advance ways of keeping the city clean and preventing road congestion. I think Fernandez should've tried other less expensive ways b4 the metro but it is done and now there is no going back but I am not optimistic and have my fingers cross. Fernandez for election...hey did I give my candidate away..jajajaj...

Also anonymous what leaders in Peru and Costa Rica are you referring to. Costa Rica has always been stable but lack modernisation. Guess what the people are happy and careless about high towers. My concern about santo domingo is that it is going to become too expensive and crime and violence will increase further.

I believe the day that Haiti will become stable and have a modern, properous economy is the day when the greatly diminish their reliance on the United States. The truth of the matter is that every single time you turn on your t.v. and see Haitians marching through cities waving their M-16's, burning tires, throwing bricks at each other, and looting businesses, theres always rumors of the United States of America having its finger-prints all over the situation. What Haitians need to realize(Blk, wht, mulatre) is that the United States was never their friend and will never be their friend. They want to divide the people, cause choas, and let Haiti remain a sweatshop for American companies. We Haitians, need to open our eyes and look at the facts. The United States has never done anything positive for Haitians. What they do is, come in and remake our constitution, crucify our heroes, allow thousands of our people be genocide. The US is not our friends people.

Haiti will only progress when we stop our mindless division and unite. Just like it says on our flag, "Union Fait la Force". We need to live by those words to get our economy going.

ny4life...diablo socio tu ta' to' elegante en esa foto...lemme find out you had to see the judge that day..lol..jk

Jemesouviens, you are writing as if you are having a fustrated day...courage brother. Don't let this situation impede you from thinking clearly. I do understand where you are coming from but we, haitians, can't blame the americans for pulling the trigger. You know I admire the US americans because they are the master of manipulating situations abroad for their own interest. USA never ever does anything out of the kindness of their heart. There is always an I.O.U. after it may be not now but in a century or so when I need what i need you better dish it out.

Actually I think we need to do the exact opposite. We need to open the market to them and provide them with unlimited cheap labour and have them have a clause that the must re-build with their revenue schools and health facilities in the local areas where they have their business. How can one not deal with USA without paying the consequences? I am not looking to make friends rather associates that makes thing happen..duros are want I need flwoing in haiti..na' mas. Look at Digicel and the works they've done in haiti. Only if locals would do a quarter of that will be in better shape. This is a business nothing more nothing less. We've been letting our patriotism run us into the wrong door. Haven't you heard this saying "keep your friends closer and enemies even closer".

At the end the world see US as the problem not the americans and in a way, we keep selling ourselves short for momentary gain. Look at the DR they've open there legs wide open and have benefited from letting internationals get their turn although their is a limit. I mean we need to open our legs just a tad and let them get want the want. Hope you get my metaphor. It is up to us to put heads togther..btw, I am not going to share what I have with the poor mass. That's one issue..where the mass want what doesn't belong to them..I dont mind paying taxes but I can't feed the whole clan. Not everyone in haiti is going to improve instantaneously. That's the biggest problem with all the poor world wide..they want government cheese now and the hell with later. Fernandez have put the biggest cheese out and all of the mouses are riding the bait..My dad always said, .give the people short term gain and you'll have them loyal to you for life or until that gain runs out. Open our markets and set laws that protect the country's interest above all and will be on our road to recovery..What do you think of Ericq Pierre.?

jajaja...tu sabe como e'...aqui preparandome...sali sin un golpe.....jejeje

Ericq Pierre Pros: Economist therefore he has good knowledge of how economies run and should be able to implement this to his advantage in boosting the economy. He has had good critiques by others, including some of his opponents. Seems to be a nice guy, lol.

Ericq Pierre Cons: Hasn't lived in the country (but in the U.S) for the past 5 years. Isn't really a "politician" in the true sense of the word and might not be able to handle the responsibility of being prime minister.

You see Jaboa, that where you and me differ. Letting the US have my people as cheap labor is the same thing as modern day slavery. Know you may be okay with that, but I'm not. This is the exact reason why people always ridacule Haitians. All I'm asking is for them to treat us with the same respect that they give the European countries. We are human beings just like them and deserve to be treated fairly. If I lay down in bed with someone it has to be on mutual terms. I can't let a person use me by any means necessary. This is what the US has been doing to Haiti for over 204 years. This is what the whole world been doing to us. Now you have people all the way Sri Lanka trying to get a little taste.... So "zanmi mwen", when does it end. As far as Ericq Pierre goes, we need to stop giving our friends high paying post in the government and start giving it to people who are qualified. This guy is not even a politician and Preval gave him that post. I hope Preval knows what he is doing because his "bouda" could be next. I'm 24 years old Jaboa, and Im hoping before I die that I see Haiti regain its title as "la Perles de les Antilles".

Yes, we have hit the fork in the road when it comes to this. There is nothing wrong with cheap labour as long as the person is actually getting paid for rendering a service. What the hell do you want me to do? Pay some one that can't barely spell his name and have no structure a big salary. Then who am I suppose to cover the cost of running my business efficiently and making money. This is hurting dominican republic as well. Everybody want a phat salary and all the incentives but lack hand on experience. Im sorry but the job of the government isn't to provide for its citizens not to make them live like kings. Alot of things needs to be subsidise and foreign investment can help the country where it needs a hand.

You cant expect for dominicans and haitians to receive the same salaries as if in the USA. There should be a minimum salary of 150.00usa a month and paying people more that arent' qualified is insane and will never happen until therer is some form of economic revolution. This alone would help the lives of haitian families. It's a start. I am not willing to share what I have just because someone is poor. Working is always respecting than a hand out