London.– The Finance Ministers of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations meet in Japan on June 13 - 14 to primarily to discuss runaway oil prices, but a group of international NGOs has called on the ministers to place the plight of the island of Haiti high on their agenda.
In an open letter to the G8 ministers, dated two days before the start of the summit, the various civil society organisations from the G8 Group of Nations and other European organisations are urging all G8 governments to “support the immediate multilateral and bilateral debt cancellation for Haiti or a moratorium on all debt service payments until such a time as the debt is cancelled”.
One of the concerned NGOs is the Haiti Advocacy Platform Ireland-UK (HAPI-UK), and its coordinator, Anne McConnell, issued a release stating that Haiti was facing a severe crisis and unless it was relieved of its million-dollar international debts, the people of Haiti would continue to suffer.
“As UK Chancellor Alistair Darling joins other G8 leaders in Japan this week, UK NGOs join others to call on him to support immediate debt cancellation for Haiti,” said McConnell. “Twenty eight UK, European, US and Canadian NGOs have spoken out and said that it is unacceptable for Haiti to continue to pay US$1million in illegitimate debt payments each year to the World Bank and other institutions while the people of Haiti suffer.”
Haiti is currently in its final stages of the World Bank/IMF Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, but with over US$50million in scheduled debt to pay this year –more than a quarter of its spending on public health alone– the country is not expected to reach completion point until late 2008 at the earliest.
In 2009, Haiti is projected to pay out US$50.9million in debt service payments to its creditors. According to the 28 NGOs who signed the June 11 letter, if Haiti does not reach its completion point under the HIPC initiative the figure would rise to US$59.6million.
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
what choice do they have .....this problem could have been avoided if they had not installed the ugly dwarf Aristide.....You talk about a mistake in Iraq.....Bubba Clinton and the Black Congressional Caucus get the blame for Haiti...then they turn around and stabbed Hilary in the back along with fat boy Richardson ,who thinks he will make a good VP because he is Mexican when he wants to be
From: Afghanistan, BAF
Well well well, When you borrow money you have to pay it back to the "mean" people who LOANED it to you. The world is soo cruel. I garuntee as soon as their 'illegitamate' debt is cancelled they will be back with their grimy little hands out for more free money.
From: Afghanistan, BAF
Case in point, the picture above, Since none of the adults have secured gainful employment couldn't they at least organize and pick up some of the GD garbage their children are wading around in ? This is the attitude that keeps them is such a sorry situation, If as a people and society you would rather lie around in fith and recklessly procreate as oppsed to doing what ever you could to improve the situation at hand then you deserve the lot you have.
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
pappy ...you really over there in the Khyber Pass country? tell us about the jail break
From: Afghanistan, BAF
Well, 870 bad guys on the loose 4 Marines dead and another glaring example of our nieviate in trusting the Afghans with pet responsibilities. The Afgan forces are incompetent and corrupt to no end the regular citizens live with daily extortion at the ANA and ANP and we in turn have garnered some bad blood for supporting them, same crooks as in Taliban times now they just wear different little hats.
From: Afghanistan, BAF
I'm a little jaded though , eventually it will get better just have to be around long enough for the young people to compare how we do things and what their 'traditional society' has gotten them. I beleive flush toilets and litteracy will win out in the end.
Written by: santanar, 14 Jun 2008 7:00 PM
From: United States
Forgiving Haiti debt should be an automatic, there is no way that Haiti will be able to pay for commitments probably done by papa doc and others with the present crisis facing that country.
From: United States
they should place certain conditions for cancelling such debts. The politicel leaderships is not deserving of such an offer and they will probably double their debts within the same year of cancellation. Everyone knows what and where the problems rae for Haiti and its development but the international commuinties don't want to face the real issues. U.N. forces are still there and will be there for some more years to come, and with this gestures its just more money for the dominant families and interests groups. Some will say that at least its something but not for the lowest class.
From: United States, New York City
Check out the book Economic Hitmen sometime to learn more about debt. Remember that a select little coterie of assholes probably did all the borrowing, and now everyone there must suffer to pay it. But the biggest assholes are those so called BANKERS who made these loans...just like the sub-prime crisis in the USA...if you lend money to broke people then you deserve to lose it!
From: Malta, Malta Goya, La marca del momento esta pa ti
manhattanite, If they where not broke I don't think they would need the money......
59 million , if i hit the lotto Imma buy Haiti
From: Dominican Republic
It is increasingly obvious that Haiti is a "FAILED NATION" and their beloved "Independance" is a total FARCE.
They won the Battle for independence, but have lost the War to maintain it.
Haiti is a shining example of a nation totally incapable of geverning itself forthebenefit of it's people and their posterity.
World organizations have pumped money into a gaping maul of greed and incompetance for too many years and it is now time to realize that the only course of humanitarian action is to declare Haiti a protecterate of theUnited Nations; to place that country under the direct control of the UN and to place individuals of honor andintegrity in charge of every aspect of Haitian Society and economic endeavor.
TB
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
Bill that is an interesting concept and 25 years of that might just put them in the right direction....also it would be cheaper in the long run and possibly more humane
From: United States, New York City
TB a better course of action would be to take a completely hands off approach. Recolonization may create a perception of more order, but only ensures that the situation as it stands continues for the long run. No what is required is an end to financial handouts, and an end to foreign meddling. Facing the the abyss of complete chaos I'm sure the Haitians would generate a strongman leader and set their own house straight. We may not like dictators but we can see in the headlines that an enforced democracy in Haiti (and elsewhere) results in too much messiness and trouble for the nieghbors.
Oh and chillaxin please do not go into banking with that misconception. Lending money to broke people is risky behaviour, and when they don't pay you deserve to go bankrupt. Banks make their money lending to SOLVENT businesses. As they say it takes money to make money....
From: United States
Will somebody please explain why they have groups like "Top Vice", and "Sweet Mickie", pushing that Kompa sound when Haiti is riddled with hunger. It might be 'Ce si bon' in Miami, but in Cap Haitien or Cite Soleil, it's "pa-bon". The Mulatrisme and Color (Couleur Clair) Caste system that maintains Haiti in utter poverty is apparent even to non Haitians living abroad. Yet, the Lebanese-Haitians, act like everything is magnifique. While the common everyday Haitien lives in squalor.
The problem is similar in every poor country around the world; However, what distinguishes Haiti is the Vodun religion, the lack of literacy, the lack of employment opportunity, the over-population, the mass deforestation, all these are factors that call for austerity, charity, not bragging about your music, or your style. This is a wake up call for all these Musical Marauders: Tell it like it is!
Wyclef Jean, knows what time it is; Why can more of you do the same???
There are no free lunches!
From: Dominican Republic
did any body catch that...in the begining it says the island of haiti...who writes these articles? Need to go back to school because haiti is on a island shared by the D.R, not its own little island.
From: Dominican Republic
excuse me all mighty gc I never knew there was a standard on what can be considered an island or not...Your insight is very interesting it must be that foreigner education system working in again.
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
Answer the question ......after you were returned with the bracelets on have you ever been to any of your sister islands.....I doubt it ...hayseed
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
MM the great difference between Haiti and DR is that your country has always welcomed all peoples from anywhere with open arms and that is why its diversity is a great strength....Haiti on the other hand since its creation and independence from horrible slavery has been inward looking and paranoid.....this is something they come by honestly out of fear of all the European imperialists who feared the spread of the slave uprising and constantly tried to undermine it from the time of its inception in the colonies of the West Indies.....The slave uprisings did spread to many of the other islands and they were brutally suppressed ....Haiti is now a prisoner of its history and requires a huge rebuilding of its spirit so it can become part of the 21st century like its neighbor the DR
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
arsenio you are on to something
Written by: NègMawon 
, 18 Jun 2008 1:19 PM
From: Haiti
Pappabowie, where is your comments on the Article about DR not having enough space to dispose of Garbage that is about Dominicans littering in the Streets of DR?
Written by: rom1804 , 18 Jun 2008 2:41 PM
From: Zimbabwe
The Island is called AYITI you imbecile. Hispaniola is just an adapted name. The most educated ones always knows this and have and always will call her the Island of AYITI.
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
remember the French imported slaves 20 to 1 over the Spaniards....obviously that was their problem for when the slaves learned to count that was the end of the France in Hispaniola ....and the beginning of the slave uprisings throughout the Caribbean....the European powers spent so much wealth and manpower trying to put the Haitian revolt down that they created the Haitian mentality of looking only inward and never towards Europe for direction this attitude due and rightfully so to mistrust of European powers....continues.....The R.D. on the other hand is always looking for immigrants from anywhere to balance the Haitian incursion and thus the multi cultural multi racial make up of its people
Written by: antonioj, 19 Jun 2008 9:47 PM
From: Canada, Oakville on terra firma
"
remember the French imported slaves 20 to 1 over the Spaniards....obviously that was their problem for when the slaves learned to count that was the end of the France in Hispaniola ....and the beginning of the slave uprisings throughout the Caribbean....
"
excellent point gouletcolonial
From: Dominican Republic, Montellano
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
consuelo your criticism of my postings on Haiti perplexes me.... Unless you are a fan of Aristide I try at all times to remain outside this discussion ,but yes I consider that a huge mistake and will refrain from calling him an ugly Dwarf.....
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
outsiders and whiners and complainers refuse to see this from any other perspective and show a lack of sensitivity to legitimate issues ie immigration and citizenship much more humanitarian work needs to be done...but without provoking a large segment of the population.....some outsiders try to promote this as an issue of race....... that concept will not help these suffering people and only arouse animosity....there are people who want to poison the well and create racial strife and they will play the slimy race card as easily here as Phony Al and Jesse and Farakhan play it in USA...You have seen these groups of Congressional black caucus members here on Fact Finding Missions being counterproductive....they should spend more time fixing the mess they created in Haiti by installing their hero Aristide then leaving the UN to clean up their mess..do not be deceived there is mischief at hand
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
we must be careful to ensure that all deportations and repatriations of illegal Haitian immigrants are
carried out in full conformity with Dominican law, complying with the minimum
standards laid down by the government in 2002, and with international human
rights standards anything less would be unacceptable....Also please no outside agitators with hidden agendas.... The outsiders with an agenda create many of these problems between the two countries.....beware they come in the guise of fact finding missions from the U.N. or the Congressional Black Caucus....but it is always their position that this is a racist issue only and make demeaning remarks about Dominicans and their attitudes...This without ever trying to understand the historical or cultural and sovereignty ramifications of what they say and do"....this human tragedy requires altruism and fairness not sloganeering
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
Consuelo you have probably made a lifestyle out of being a victim in everything you do ...I pity you
From: United States
I can not believe these Haitian Hate Mongers actually live on Domican soil? It's been said: "Don't bite the hand that feeds you". That goes right over your heads. Who allows these internal enemies to remain within national boundaries? You know nothing of our history and, our struggle against foreign invaders wanting to change things! I'd send them back accross the Massacre or Artibonito, PDQ. If you don't like the Mangu, go home! Nobody wants your huffin' and puffin', get out!
Would it make sense for me to go to Petionville and complain about Haitians? or to Jacmel and talk about the bad attitudes there? I don't think, so! I have nothing to say about the Haitians in Haiti, they are mostly good people. But, some of these domestic/under-cover infiltrators, just have to go. They whine all day long! Point blank, you are your worst enemy, face it. Rahh, Rahh, Rahh.
I live in the States. When I get fed up, and discontent, I'll go home. It's that simple. I don't fake jacks.
From: Dominican Republic, Montellano
I totally agree with all that you have to say. You have expressed exactly the open mindedness we all fail to realized to be or become. Sure, why not right? I have not found a single thing to object to in all your posted comments as you have hit the nail precisely into the root wood source of the problem and I could not have agreed with you more... sure, oh sure your thought alone that gets to be expressed no matter of defaming and derogatory is exactly the sentiments I wanted to express which I am sure so does every single Haitian who gets to read your prejudicial comments. Sure oh sure... your posts make complete perfect sense as we are all awaiting your second coming. Get the hell out of here with your BS!
From: Dominican Republic, Montellano
Peoples, there is this new topic thread I started called HYPOCRISY OF DEMOCRACY your opinions are needed on it and remember to invite others to come participate with this same invitation.
From: Dominican Republic
Rom1804;
You seem to be the uninformed idiot in the crowd by referring to Hispanola as AYITI. That may have been what the native indigenese called it, but since the time of Columbus the island has been known to the world as Hispanola.
Another thing, the indigenous people are NOT Indians. They are called that because Europeans thought they had discovered way to INDIA by going WEST instead of EAST. The name stuck andhas been used for the past 500 years the same as Hispanola has been used.
You need to catch up on REAL HISTORY instead of what those who would change that discipline try to do by giving out false and irrevelent information.
As to the rest of the comments on this board, maybe some people should begin to have an open mind (me too, possibly) about the problems faced by Haitians andtheir inability to solve them. Many Dominicans are not so much better off andwould do well to solve the problems in the DR before "throwing stones in a glass house".
TB
Written by: antonioj, 2 Jul 2008 5:31 PM
From: Canada, Oakville on terra firma
"You seem to be the uninformed idiot in the crowd by referring to Hispanola as AYITI. That may have been what the native indigenese called it, but since the time of Columbus the island has been known to the world as Hispanola.
"
lol
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59 million , if i hit the lotto Imma buy Haiti
They won the Battle for independence, but have lost the War to maintain it.
Haiti is a shining example of a nation totally incapable of geverning itself forthebenefit of it's people and their posterity.
World organizations have pumped money into a gaping maul of greed and incompetance for too many years and it is now time to realize that the only course of humanitarian action is to declare Haiti a protecterate of theUnited Nations; to place that country under the direct control of the UN and to place individuals of honor andintegrity in charge of every aspect of Haitian Society and economic endeavor.
TB
Oh and chillaxin please do not go into banking with that misconception. Lending money to broke people is risky behaviour, and when they don't pay you deserve to go bankrupt. Banks make their money lending to SOLVENT businesses. As they say it takes money to make money....
The problem is similar in every poor country around the world; However, what distinguishes Haiti is the Vodun religion, the lack of literacy, the lack of employment opportunity, the over-population, the mass deforestation, all these are factors that call for austerity, charity, not bragging about your music, or your style. This is a wake up call for all these Musical Marauders: Tell it like it is!
Wyclef Jean, knows what time it is; Why can more of you do the same???
There are no free lunches!
remember the French imported slaves 20 to 1 over the Spaniards....obviously that was their problem for when the slaves learned to count that was the end of the France in Hispaniola ....and the beginning of the slave uprisings throughout the Caribbean....
"
excellent point gouletcolonial
EYEING TOURISM, HAITI BATTLES ITS VIOLENT REPUTATION.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0620/p04s01-woam.html
HAITIAN MASSACRE VICTIMES WIN HISTORIC VICTORIES IN US COURTS.
http://americas.irc-online.org/am/5314
U.S CONGRESS MOVES TO HELP HAITI.
http://www.caribbeanworldnews.com/middle_top_news_detail.php?mid=938
LULA HAITI VISIT PROMPTS PROTEST IN BRAZIL, MEXICO & SAN FRANCISCO.
http://www.haitiaction.net/News/HAC/6_18_8.html
carried out in full conformity with Dominican law, complying with the minimum
standards laid down by the government in 2002, and with international human
rights standards anything less would be unacceptable....Also please no outside agitators with hidden agendas.... The outsiders with an agenda create many of these problems between the two countries.....beware they come in the guise of fact finding missions from the U.N. or the Congressional Black Caucus....but it is always their position that this is a racist issue only and make demeaning remarks about Dominicans and their attitudes...This without ever trying to understand the historical or cultural and sovereignty ramifications of what they say and do"....this human tragedy requires altruism and fairness not sloganeering
Would it make sense for me to go to Petionville and complain about Haitians? or to Jacmel and talk about the bad attitudes there? I don't think, so! I have nothing to say about the Haitians in Haiti, they are mostly good people. But, some of these domestic/under-cover infiltrators, just have to go. They whine all day long! Point blank, you are your worst enemy, face it. Rahh, Rahh, Rahh.
I live in the States. When I get fed up, and discontent, I'll go home. It's that simple. I don't fake jacks.
Peoples, there is this new topic thread I started called HYPOCRISY OF DEMOCRACY your opinions are needed on it and remember to invite others to come participate with this same invitation.
You seem to be the uninformed idiot in the crowd by referring to Hispanola as AYITI. That may have been what the native indigenese called it, but since the time of Columbus the island has been known to the world as Hispanola.
Another thing, the indigenous people are NOT Indians. They are called that because Europeans thought they had discovered way to INDIA by going WEST instead of EAST. The name stuck andhas been used for the past 500 years the same as Hispanola has been used.
You need to catch up on REAL HISTORY instead of what those who would change that discipline try to do by giving out false and irrevelent information.
As to the rest of the comments on this board, maybe some people should begin to have an open mind (me too, possibly) about the problems faced by Haitians andtheir inability to solve them. Many Dominicans are not so much better off andwould do well to solve the problems in the DR before "throwing stones in a glass house".
TB
"
lol