Don’t Compartmentalize Our Central Plato

In the “Hebdo” honoring the recent passing of Haitian politician Marc Bazin, there is
an article on page 10 reporting on Communal Development: The Central Plato as a
Pilot Zone. This engaging title stimulated our interest especially when a statement in
exergue announced “high level of environmental security in several posts bordering the
Dominican Republic, road infrastructures in progress, implementation of developing
programs in several of these communes, a beautiful future seems to await the Central
Plateau.” Moreover, it was stated, “the meeting last Thursday between the Civil
Society and the local collectivities for the development of the Communes of Saut-dÉau,
Lascahobas and Belladère prove their jump to growth.”
We learned subsequently that the European Union (EU) and the “Fonds d’assistance
éconmique et social” (Faes) are contributing around half million dollars to finance
the project under Faes supervision. The purpose of the project is to motivate
closer cooperation between the Municipal Councils for “the elaboration of common
development plans in each of the communal communities.” Professor Rony Desroches,
speaking for Faes, pleaded “in favor of a reinforced capacity of the mayors, the
reinforced collaboration between the local elected officials and the civil society, and
in favor of the involvement of the population in the development of the community.”
Moreover, it was reported that Isabelle de Goussencourt, representing the European
Union had reaffirmed the essential importance of decentralization with “public political
support and necessary financial mechanism.” It was revealed also that this collaboration
project between the Civil Society and communal communities such as Mirbalais,
Thomonde and Hinche in the Central Plato are financed by the European Union. While
Odel David, associate general-director of Faes is applauding collaborative
among the communal communities, the Civil Society has not yet identified the specific
areas of the project implementation. It is believed, however, that such areas like
commerce, tourism, agriculture, or animal husbandry are being considered in the
involved communities.
Along that line, an organization call Medishare published this statement: “Haiti’s
Central Plateau is poor and desolate. But, its small, isolated, villages are also filled
with acres of undeveloped land. Soil waiting to be moved. Water waiting to flow.
Children waiting to be educated. The stage is set.” Project Medishare, is a not-for-profit
organization founded in 1994 at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine by Dr.
Barth Green and Dr. Arthur Fournier. With an established infrastructure and alliances
with other organizations, Project Medishare is a great model of what the Millennium
Goals needs to realize its potential. This organization affirms that its “long-term vision
has always been to educate Haitians and make them self-sustainable. Today, Project
Medishare is an example of the vital role non-profits play in empowering people. The
mind-blowing nation of Haiti is a land of potential. It is a land of opportunity for non-
profits, corporations and individuals to set an example of how, village-by-village, we can
overcome the biggest development challenges and obstacles.”
As much as Medishare initiatives seem to be more direct and practical, they are steel
limited to “village-by-village” development, while EU and Faes seem to go town-by-
town. Looking at the map of the Central Plato, we can see a road going from Seaut-
d’Eau, to Lascahobas, and Belladère; and another going from Mirbalais, to Thomonde,
and Hinche. Although roads are important for communication and trade they cannot
be alone the main factors of development. The persons concerned about land
exploitations, children education , water canalization and distribution, and more, must
remember that all those must be part of a global program that shall include, housing,
work generating income, good schools and qualified teachers, as well as parks and
recreation facilities, and other necessary projects that can help insure self-sustainability
within a master plan for the whole Central Plato.
Please! Let us not be part a compartmentalization of our Central Plato!