December 23, 2024
Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille visited the United States (Washington) on Friday, June 28, in the hope of mobilizing funds to address the multidimensional crisis in Haiti. During its meeting with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on Monday July 1, a financial commitment of $40 million was announced. However, without a coordinated and well-planned policy, this fund may not produce the expected results, like previous international efforts.
The IDB’s promise comes in a context where Haiti is facing security, humanitarian, economic and political challenges. Garry Conille underlined the seriousness of the situation and the urgency of rebuilding the infrastructure destroyed by gangs, in particular hospitals, schools and prisons. Despite the urgency of these needs, recent history shows that international aid is often hampered by mismanagement and a lack of coordination, rendering efforts ineffective.
During this visit, the Haitian delegation also met representatives of the World Bank and the IMF. Discussions focused on streamlining administrative procedures to facilitate access to funds. However, these technical measures will not be enough to resolve Haiti’s structural problems without a strategic vision and rigorous implementation of projects.
The security situation was a central point of discussions, notably with Jon Finer, deputy national security adviser for the Biden administration. The Prime Minister said law enforcement will give proportional responses to armed gangs. But without a coherent policy and adequate resources, these declarations risk remaining wishful thinking, incapable of changing the reality on the ground.
Garry Conille’s visit, although hopeful, will only be fruitful if it is accompanied by a concrete action plan and transparent management of funds. Financing promises and diplomatic meetings must translate into tangible, coordinated and closely monitored actions, to prevent the $40 million from the IDB from being another missed opportunity for Haiti like the billions spent in the reconstruction of the country after the 2010 earthquake.