Recovery in Haiti [CGI]

This session of the CGI is one that fills me with excitement.Bill Clinton has gathered key leaders from government and business to discuss how the international community can help Haiti rebuild. This ties in with the recent work that I have been doing and the research that I am currently conducting. Therefore, I was thrilled to have been given a pass to get in (Press access to CGI sessions is limited).



As you are undoubtedly aware,on the 12th of January, a earthquake in Haiti resulted in the death of 200,000 people, caused widespread homelessness and destroyed the fragile infrastructure. 


This tragic example of a natural disaster at its worst is hard to explain in words. Its impact is far reaching, lives were torn apart and a nation is still suffering the effects. The session discussed the opportunity to rebuild Haiti in a way that addresses the long term well-being of the Haitian people. In April 2010, the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC), was established by the Government of Haiti. The IHRC is working to coordinate the efforts of the international community including donor governments, NGOs, and private sector entities to ensure that projects are in line with the Haitian government’s priorities and initiatives, and the needs of the Haitian people.


As previously mentioned, I have been involved (on a much much smaller scale) with a similar project. Therefore, I was very interested in hearing what was to be discussed. You can read the script of the event here. That was not the lasting memory that I took away from the session.


The event confirmed my believe that the rebuilding process must be led by the indigenous people for long term change to be effective. The Haitian people must take ownership of the process. It is hard with all the offers flowing in for any organisation to turn away offers. However, I hope that IHCR have that strength, pragmatism and will power. This is a process that has just begun. Let us hope (for millions of people) that it is a successful one.

Program Participants Included Jean-Max Bellerive, Prime Minister, Republic of Haiti, President Bill Clinton, Founding Chairman, Clinton Global Initiative; 42nd President of the United States, Magalie Noel Dresse, President, Caribbean Craft Haiti, Adam Goldstein, President and Chief Executive Officer, Royal Caribbean International, Maryse P. Kedar, Director, Progress and Development Foundation, Mati Kochavi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, AGT, Denis O'Brien, Chairman, Digicel, René Préval, President, Republic of Haiti, Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum