Two years after the devastating earthquake in Haiti that killed 300,000 plus, the rubble is only half removed. There are many open spaces to move it to, but the equipment to do the big jobs are just coming to the front line. Many countries that gave money had special projects that they wanted their funds to be used for and rubble removable was not on the top of the list.
Things have not changed in many ways; there are far too many poor people going to bed hungry and waking up hungry. There are too many that have no choice but to beg all day, hoping for $1 to buy food from a street vender. You see it that the airport, where 50 men will try to win you over as a skycap, while hundreds call to you across fencing and cement barricades.
But things are changing: a man that is not a politician is now president. He is a man that was not a part of the merchant class or social hierarchy who is now president and he is a people person that knows the pain of his people. Everything that could be done to deny him the seat was done, but the cry of the millions of young people for this popular singer and friend of Jean Wyclef was too strong to deny him the seat.
Today he still must fight to get his people in place, and the truth is a former U.S. president might have more influence amongst the political groups. Michel Martelly is the peoples’ president. They love him and he loves them.
The Canadian government is giving $20 million to move 20,000 people out of tents around the capital building in downtown Port Au Prince. This is a good thing as a symbol of progress; it will build hope in the minds of the people. But, remember, if things only go back to the way they were before the earthquake, that is not much to hope for. It will mean only things around the government buildings look better, but life will be no better.
The new president, Martelly, recognizes this, and has not focused simply and completely on cleaning up rubble and getting people out of downtown Port Au Prince, but getting them educated. Martelly has made it possible for 94,000 children that never had the opportunity before to attend school daily.
The Dominican Republic has helped the president to make education the hope of all Haitians by building a new university, Rio Henri Christopher University, in Haiti. On the border of the two countries, this place will train Haitians to liberate Haitians.
There is a better tomorrow in Haiti.
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