For the people of Haiti this is more than a cataclysm; it is more so tragedy by design. For those of us who recognize our connection with Haiti, and understand our own economic vulnerability, we see it for what it is. It is neo-colonialism at work. It is the continual disregard for the life of people of African descent.  It is the continued enslavement of peoples by economic means. It is the destabilization of a country and more specifically its economy so that others may be imposed their will on us.

 For many of the "aid donors" in Haiti this isn't a tragedy, for many of them this is an opportunity. Pennies of every dollar donated to Haiti actually benefit the people of Haiti. So where does the remainder go? Let us get it straight, this is not just a humanitarian effort that is taking place in Haiti, this is business. It is the “first world” countries, led by the United States, establishing political and economic structures that will aid their businesses and political interests for many years to come. We saw it in Iraq a couple years ago. Who got the contracts “to rebuild Iraq?” Certainly not the Iraqi or Asian companies. Those contracts were given to companies from the countries of the “collision of the willing.” This is the foundation for the new and improved neo-colonialism which is being built in Haiti. Thus, the apparent aid is in the eyes of the donors an investment.

You may ask, “Where are the watch dogs”? - “Who is responsible for oversight and to ensure that the people of Haiti are justly served?” Well, the Haitian tragedy is not new. It has been there since the first Europeans landed on Haiti and worsened with American and European imperialism. Who looked out for Haiti during those 200 years? Do not expect the politicians to help, they are more engaged in politics rather than governance.  Do not expect the media to shed light on the real issues. I am still waiting for CNN to investigate how the Bill Clinton’s administration undermined the agricultural economy in Haiti, and turned independent farmers into factory slaves.  The media has been relegated to the role of peddling tragedies, and the commercialization of information. What you know is what their corporate sponsors and parent companies want them to tell you. The rest, that is the truth, you have to dig and find for yourself and quite often the truth surfaces sometimes twenty (20) years later when they decide to open some secret file.

It will take “us” the people, those of us with a voice, those of us who are willing to speak up, and to speak out to do so. We have to form alliances with our brothers and sisters in Haiti. If ever there was a need for Caribbean unification it is now. Do not wait on CSME and do not wait on your politicians. We in the Caribbean basin have the resources to sustain ourselves. What has failed us and continues to fail us is the lack of leadership of any kind. With the unification of Caribbean peoples, not only can our vulnerability be minimized, our prosperity can be realized.

Could you believe that in this recession-filled times all the utility rates in Barbados are going? Better believe it. Last week the Fair Trading Commission granted the Barbados Light and Power Company permission to increase its rate by 10 percent. Last year the Commisssion also granted LIME permission to increase its rates and the Water Authoriy, well they just raised theirs by 60 percent.

Now, I only did introduction to Economics, but it does not take a Sir Arthur Lewis to tell us that in a time of recession such moves are detrimental to the masses. What ever happened to the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility? Where is the social conscience of these companies?

Could you believe that in this recession-filled times all the utility rates in Barbados are going? Better believe it. Last week the Fair Trading Commission granted the Barbados Light and Power Company permission to increase its rate by 10 percent. Last year the Commission also granted LIME permission to increase its rates and the Water Authority; well they just raised theirs by 60 percent.

Now, I only did introduction to Economics, but it does not take a Sir Arthur Lewis to tell us that in a time of recession such moves are detrimental to the masses.

Whatever happened to the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility? Where is the social conscience of these companies?

Haiti - The real rape over

The Haitian tragedy isn’t just that they have experienced the most devastating of natural disasters in the last 200 years. As the world sounds its alarm at this latest devastation to hit the island of Haiti, tens of thousands of its citizen’s die.

The truth is this has been the Haitian experience for the past 200 years- the peoples of this nation have been the regions destitute; the results of economic enslavement. This is Haiti’s price for being the first free black nation in the western hemisphere. For their revolutionary spirit and their will to pry themselves from the boot heel of “Masa” and later the “Big Stick” of the USA, Haitians have paid in blood. Today Haiti’s first democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, is living in exile in South Africa. Aristide, like Toussaint L'ouverture, had the audacity to challenge the imperialist- the US and France. For this he was driven from office first by the Clinton administration, then again by the second Bush administration. Now it seems he must ask the Obama administration for permission to come home to Haiti- how absurd.

Almost unimaginable to most, the citizens of this Caribbean nation have been living on an average $2USD per day. Yes this is shocking and devastating, but Haiti has been, since its revolution, the most impoverished country in the western hemisphere. It isn’t coincidental that Haiti doesn’t have infrastructure to support or lessen the impact of this disaster, this is by design. The undermining of Haiti’s economy by the US (IMF) polices is what exacerbates the impact of this tragedy. It is the French demands for Haiti to pay reparation to the slave owners, which makes them the most destitute nation in the western hemisphere. And as a member nation of CARICOM and the wider Caribbean community, the failures of Caribbean leaders, government and people to come to the aid Haiti is not just inexcusable, it’s willful. We in the Caribbean “tek good food fi feed dawg and pig” while Haiti’s children die of hunger. There is a lot more than can be said here, but my focus is not on chastising anyone for the betrayal of Haiti.

What the world sees today as they turn on their television is the rupture from the years of being battered, robbed and ravished. Please don’t stop looking and caring- Haiti needs us. They have always needed us. Now that she has our attention please don’t lessen your gaze. Stay focused – keep looking, especially in this time of great giving. It’s usually at this time that the generous givers are plotting to take as much as they can get. Let Haiti rise from this knowing that she has allies - brother and sister not only here in the Caribbean, but throughout the world. Let her know that we recognize the injustice. Let everyone know we recognize the injustice