Capital-ism

By: Kathie Klarreich | 06/13/2010

The difference in Port-au-Prince and Washington DC is just a microcosm of what can, and needs, to be done in Haiti's post earthquake reconstruction. There is no comparison, really, between navigating Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, and the orderly, manicured streets of DC. With so much of Haiti's roads under rubble or the treads of heavy equipment, maneuvering is at best a challenge, an exercise in patience, dodge-ball, agility, and did I say, patience?

That goes for just about everything in this impoverished nation's capital, from the distribution of water to food to housing and reporting, which is why I am blogging. It's why I am going to spend a year in Haiti working hand-in-hand with journalists to bolster their investigative skills to best track the $8.8 billion pledged by the international community. The goal, for Haitian journalists  to document the money trail with transparency and sourcing, is as monumental as reconstructing homes for the 1.5 million who have been displaced.

In contrast to the rumblings on January 12 that killed over 230,000, Haiti is now crippled by stagnation - in housing development, city planning and transforming pledges into actual projects. With the hurricane season already dumping heavy rains, the possibility of exacerbating the disaster is as real as the standing pools of water in and around the 1,300 tent camps that blanket the capital. Looming like storm clouds is the potential for more deaths, flooding, disease and social  unrest.

Washington, with its sturdy, historic statues paying tribute to the wisdom of its forefathers, is not without its  problems, but as I spend my week here in the ICFJ training, I cannot help but wish that Haiti, too, could boast of its heritage: the first black independent country in the western hemisphere, the only nation in the world to defeat Napoleon's army. The few statues that commemorate its victories are surrounded by puddles of water and a sea of tents as opposed to reflecting pools.

Just a few months ago, Haiti held the world's attention. Today, at best, a single eye spotlights the western half of Hispaniola. I hope, as the Fellowship progresses, world focus will return to Haiti, not the result of a political or natural disaster, but because of a new era of Haitians reporting on Haiti with accuracy and detail, precision and impartiality.

The former resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, along with Haitian Prime Minister Max Bellerive, will  co-chair the commission that is charged with overseeing the distribution of aid money. Bill Clinton knows the benefits of a functioning capital. His motto for Haiti is " Build Back Better."

Change, like building a city, doesn't happen overnight. But it's time to lay down the foundation, one brick at a time.

For updates on Haiti's progress, the investigative skills of its journalist and the interventions of the Fellowship, stay tuned to this blog.            

Latest News

ICFJ Fellow Builds Community of Women Journalists in Post-Assad Syria

When Bashar al-Assad’s government was overthrown at the end of 2024, Mais Katt, a Syrian journalist who has lived in exile for 14 years, immediately returned to her country. She was one of the first journalism trainers to enter Damascus after the fall of the regime. Her goal? Help prepare women journalists to take advantage of their newfound freedoms.

ICFJ Fellow Investigates Government Failures in West Bank Refugee Camps

Aziza Nofal, a Palestinian freelance journalist and an ICFJ Jim Hoge Reporting Fellow, through her fellowship, conducted a months-long investigation into the shortage of aid for refugees living in West Bank refugee camps. When Nofal was covering Israeli incursions into West Bank refugee camps for outlets like Al Jazeera, she observed a lack of support from Palestinian authorities.

Hold the Line Coalition Welcomes Maria Ressa and Rappler's Acquittal on Foreign Ownership Case, Urges Closure of Remaining Case

A Filipino court has acquitted Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, along with five Rappler directors, in a long-standing anti-dummy case. Filed in 2018 under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, the case was based on the allegation that Rappler had violated constitutional restrictions on foreign ownership of media.