Los Angeles, Ca.- A report in today's L.A. Times focuses on the Haiti's growing role as a drug trafficking route.
It says that police corruption and weak government make it a safe haven for drug smugglers, and that drug running through Haiti and the Dominican Republic has more than doubled over the last two years, accounting
for more than 10% of illegal substances reaching the United States and
an even larger share of the volume destined for Europe and the U.S.
"With counter-narcotics operations choking off traditional routes from
Colombia and Mexico, smugglers are finding unfettered paths in lawless
Haiti, where poverty, isolation and inept law enforcement combine to
provide traffickers a new path of least resistance', continues the report.
A United Nations MINUSTAH peacekeeping official told the newspaper:
"Haiti doesn't have helicopters. It doesn't have planes. It doesn't have radar to even know what's coming and going."
Location is also a factor, and the article quotes Haiti's police commissioner, Mario
Andresol as saying:
"It takes only eight hours for speedboats coming from Colombia and
Venezuela to get to Jacmel. Once the drugs get to Haiti, they can be loaded onto vehicles
and sent to Port-au-Prince, then north for the trip to the United
States."
The article can be read in its entirety at: www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-adfg-drugs23dec23,0,5848023,full.story?coll=la-tot-world
Written by: josean, 23 Dec 2007 6:25 PM
From: United States
"Drug running through Haiti and the Dominican Republic has more than doubled over the last two years"
Has Hipolito been President for the last two years? Don't we have a new border police created by Mr. Fernandez.
Now he has no responsibility, he is only the president and besides he is busy with the METRO!
Written by: Jander, 24 Dec 2007 10:50 AM
From: Dominican Republic
The last president was letting them use his choppers.
The US nor the rest of the world can control this how do expect Haiti and the DR to do any better/
From: United States, Killeen, TX - Home of the 1st Cavalry
Instead of International attention being focused on the Dominican Republic, reference "the Plight of the Hatians in theBateys", such attention should be focused on Haiti and it's ongoing problems of inept and ineffectual governing.
Haiti is "a FAILED NATION", evidenced by the magnitude of poverty, lack of effective law enforcement, absence of viable economic progress and social equality.
Attention is being focused on the wrong country by the wrong people at the wrong time.
Haiti needs to become a UN Procterate, governed by the UN and staffed by the International Community which has allowed that country to sink into virtual anarchy.
Though I hate to express it this way, the country needs to be brought under the aegis of a "Benevolent Dictator" controlled by the UN. The people of Haiti NEED a strong-man at the helm who will force them to graduate from savagery into a civilized nation.
At this time they haven't the charasteristics of such.
TB
From: United States, Killeen, TX - Home of the 1st Cavalry
While my post above reflects a seemingly uncaring attitude, it is the only one that will suffice at this time.
My heart goes out to the people of Haiti and their ongoing struggle to survive their current conundrum of survival in an atmosphere which does not leave them many choices.
That there are many who will disagree with me, it is also evident that Haiti is the result of "Too much Talk and not enough positive action" from the bodies of international political authority.
One of the mandates of the UN is to foster prosperity and rule of law worldwide, but that body has developed a sense of "Tunnel Vision" in the case of Haiti.
It is about time they began looking for solutions to the conundrum of HAITI.
TB
Written by: Jander, 24 Dec 2007 11:38 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Compare Haiti to a disfunctional family member that needs help and therapy. But no one wants to take on the responsibilty as it would be inconveniant.
Sell Drugs and eat today or not to sell drugs and starve.. Geee...
Written by: ny4life, 24 Dec 2007 4:50 PM
From: United States, New York, NY
What Can I Say? Other than the first Black Independent Republic that ousted the White Imperial Europeans with an effective war and since then those very colonial figures that exploited Haiti have turn their backs on them along with the rest of the world. For the Island of Hispanola to work well with two free and independent nations, Haiti, must be helped. Not only with Donations but with technicial support. Our Haitian brothers need to be helped out by France, the US, the EU, and the other powers. They deserve a better life! Hispanola, the second largest island in the caribbean filled with history, pride, culture, and life. World needs to wake up and come to the aid of Haiti. If not, I foresee a disasterous situation on the island of Hispanola. You can't have on country on the rise and no longer when falling and expect peace on the island. They need to be helped and that's the bottom line!!!!
From: United States, Reality Check
I am a promoter of democracy, free trade & enterprise but I agree Haiti is damaged goods where corrupt government, poor leadership & greed have destroyed a nation! Thus, Haiti needs a strong leader to operate under the UN authority as noted above. Even communist Cuban has been a better model than corrupt governments that existed in Haiti. Side by side, the RD economy looks good by comparison next Haiti!
But the truth is when RD corruption has run its full course you will have another Haiti!
Both Haiti & the RD have very cheap labor, free trade with the US, EU etc & more economical shipping costs with lower distance to both the US, Canada & EU markets......so, how can China have such as a big competitive advantage to out-perform the Hispanola in global trade?
The answer is that the very high corrupiton costs, Gov problems, insecurity, poor judicial system & related expenses for higher energy due to thefts of power and distribution lines etc.
From: United States, Spring Valley, NY
"TexasBill" I disagree with what you said of Haiti being a "Failed" nation. If you want to look at a failed nation all you have to do is go to Afghanistan. The truth of the matter is that Haiti has recently been stable and quiet since 2004. That year was the last time that the Dominican Republic provided safe haven to Haitian Contras(Rebels) by givin them D.R. army uniforms, secret military bases, M-16 and AK-47 so they can go across the border and start committing treason against their own people and to topple that pig Aristide that your government hated so much.
From: United States
well gents.
I see you have failed to see the truth behind Haiti's continued isolation.
Haiti will never be forgiven for thier courage during the slave era....
just ask their only second elected president Jean-Bertrand Aristide who was quickly exiled with the help of the U.S.A
From: United Kingdom
TB;Nyc4life, I agree with your postings 100%. Haiti is on the brink of a final collapse; this is while the international community holds meetings, and fabricate impracticable strategies, that only serve to drain the last vestiges of hope that populace posses. Why all the inaction ? Because sadly ,not enough people care.
Written by: TFISKE 
, 3 Jan 2008 12:05 PM
From: Canada, Alberta
Josean another comment showing your limited intelligence.. I guess if the USA stopped consuming all these drugs there would be no problem with shipping routes.... Better yet why is the USA not there helping haiti?
I no why there is no money to be made in Haiti ...But Irag has lots of oil... funny how that works Josean... I have been to Haiti and feel for these people the same way I feel for the people of New Orleans.. Poor is Poor and without help the situation will continue to get worse.. Canada has been helping for years. Unfortunately we need support from our Big Brother but they have there hands full with Terror and Irag and Hunting Bin Laden.. If haiti had money you would be there trust me... until then enjoy the drugs and stop blaming Leonel and worry about Bush
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Has Hipolito been President for the last two years? Don't we have a new border police created by Mr. Fernandez.
Now he has no responsibility, he is only the president and besides he is busy with the METRO!
The US nor the rest of the world can control this how do expect Haiti and the DR to do any better/
Haiti is "a FAILED NATION", evidenced by the magnitude of poverty, lack of effective law enforcement, absence of viable economic progress and social equality.
Attention is being focused on the wrong country by the wrong people at the wrong time.
Haiti needs to become a UN Procterate, governed by the UN and staffed by the International Community which has allowed that country to sink into virtual anarchy.
Though I hate to express it this way, the country needs to be brought under the aegis of a "Benevolent Dictator" controlled by the UN. The people of Haiti NEED a strong-man at the helm who will force them to graduate from savagery into a civilized nation.
At this time they haven't the charasteristics of such.
TB
My heart goes out to the people of Haiti and their ongoing struggle to survive their current conundrum of survival in an atmosphere which does not leave them many choices.
That there are many who will disagree with me, it is also evident that Haiti is the result of "Too much Talk and not enough positive action" from the bodies of international political authority.
One of the mandates of the UN is to foster prosperity and rule of law worldwide, but that body has developed a sense of "Tunnel Vision" in the case of Haiti.
It is about time they began looking for solutions to the conundrum of HAITI.
TB
Sell Drugs and eat today or not to sell drugs and starve.. Geee...
But the truth is when RD corruption has run its full course you will have another Haiti!
Both Haiti & the RD have very cheap labor, free trade with the US, EU etc & more economical shipping costs with lower distance to both the US, Canada & EU markets......so, how can China have such as a big competitive advantage to out-perform the Hispanola in global trade?
The answer is that the very high corrupiton costs, Gov problems, insecurity, poor judicial system & related expenses for higher energy due to thefts of power and distribution lines etc.
I see you have failed to see the truth behind Haiti's continued isolation.
Haiti will never be forgiven for thier courage during the slave era....
just ask their only second elected president Jean-Bertrand Aristide who was quickly exiled with the help of the U.S.A
I no why there is no money to be made in Haiti ...But Irag has lots of oil... funny how that works Josean... I have been to Haiti and feel for these people the same way I feel for the people of New Orleans.. Poor is Poor and without help the situation will continue to get worse.. Canada has been helping for years. Unfortunately we need support from our Big Brother but they have there hands full with Terror and Irag and Hunting Bin Laden.. If haiti had money you would be there trust me... until then enjoy the drugs and stop blaming Leonel and worry about Bush