Worktrip to Haiti
It is great when the rare opportunity of combining work with pleasure actually brings you closer to family. On my most recent public private partnership training trip to the USAID Mission in Haiti, I was able to stay with and hang out with my cousin Rand who actually works for the Mission. Not only did he make sure each of our evenings was full of activity but I actual felt a warmer welcome by the Mission staff we had gone down to train.

Out trip started with a couple days of R&R enjoying the softer side out Haiti out of Port au Prince. Wonderful beaches, fresh seafood and warm weather made it feel like any Caribbean vacation. Now it was the chaos that we had to survive in order to get out of the city and the absolute lack of service at the beach hotel that brought us back to the developing island of Haiti. All and all the security situation has improved drastically since 1 year ago. Although the safety measure (armored vehicles and UN) are still in place most of this is a passive form of preparation should things flash again. The saddest thing about Haiti and the billions poured into the country in development is that they can never get over the hump. Lack of infrastructure, corruption, political will and annual hurricanes always seem to keep everything in crisis mode rather than gaining true ground.

The (limited) people we met were wonderful and fortunately the laid-back island mentality certainly whittles a softer edge to the abject poverty and over population. I was surprised to see only 10-15% of the capital city had power each night and shanty town upon shanty town had no electricity or running water (all illegal builds). Of course among the international community and the hotel, houses, restaurants and office we were shuttled back and forth between had all the pleasantries of any Western city. However, it was the connection to these points that brought you back to reality. By FAR, the worse (potholed and dirt) roads and traffic I have seen anywhere on the planet. A standard 1 hour travel time to get between any two points in the city, any time of day, minimum. It is my theory that unless something radically is done soon, the city will actually cease to move and be stuck in eternal grid-lock.

Our training was quite productive except for the small fact that there is VERY limited private sector business (outside the black market) and almost no foreign direct investment due to instability. This was bluntly brought to our attention during a private sector outreach meeting we hosted at a hotel for about 40 local businesses when they pointed out the fact that we want to help however the State Departments Travel Advisory NOT to go to Haiti is preventing any businesses from coming. Very good point I thought but the obvious reality that the UN still patrols the streets and supports the local police in any uprising isn't the safest place for people to invest (not to mention the ongoing kidnappings).

So, Haiti has a very very long way to go despite the USG's investment of $400MM annually in helping dig themselves out. Clearly a place where USAID will be in business for a long time to come.