Locals complain of exclusion from planning process

47 local and international NGOs and civil society groups held a meeting last
week to comment on the upcoming donor conference in New York. Afterward, 26
groups signed a statement that decried the absence of local input in the
reconstruction plans. The full text of their statement follows:

Haitian NGOs Decry Total Exclusion from Donors’ Conferences on Haitian
Reconstruction

March 18, 2010

SANTO DOMINGO .- More than 26 organizations and social movements in Haiti
reported that the process established for formulating the “Plan for
Reconstruction of Haiti” at the donors' conference that concluded yesterday
in Santo Domingo has been characterized by an almost total exclusion of
Haitian social actors and civil society, and very limited participation by
uncoordinated representatives of the Haitian State.

The path set for the reconstruction of Haiti in the National Plan of
Post-Disaster Assessment may not meet the expectations of the Haitian people
as it fails to address sustainable development needs, and instead focuses on
restoring old development plans, rather than complete reorientation of the
Haitian development model.

“We regret that this document, produced by a group of 300 technocrats, is
presented to donors first, without first having exhausted a broad process of
consultation with Haitian civil society.

We believe that the meeting scheduled for March 19 with some organizations
of civil society in Port au Prince is no substitute for the actual
mechanisms of participation of the various components of Haitian society in
defining their collective future.

The crisis generated by the earthquake challenges us to initiate an
alternative process aimed at defining a new national project, envisaging
serious strategies to overcome exclusion, and economic and political
dependence. Through this new orientation it is possible to move toward a new
era of prosperity. We need to part with the old paradigms that have been
followed up until now and develop an inclusive process of mobilization of
social actors. To achieve this it is necessary to do the following:

1. Break with exclusion. Breaking this dynamic is an essential condition for
true integration, based on social justice and for the strengthening of
national cohesion. This involves the participation and mobilization of
social forces traditionally excluded such as women, peasants, youth,
artisans and so on. It also means targeted investment on the part of
official institutions associated with current exclusion, and the reinvention
of the Haitian state, whose practice should be geared towards transparency,
institutional integrity, social justice, respect for diversity, and human
rights.

2. Break with economic dependence. Build an economic model that encourages
domestic production, with emphasis on agriculture and agro-industry turned
first to the satisfaction of our food needs (cereals, tubers, milk, fruits
and fish, meat etc.).

This new model should not be dominated by the logic of excessive
accumulation of wealth or speculation, but oriented towards the welfare of
the people, appreciation of national culture and the recovery of our
national forests. It should also reduce dependence on fossil fuels by
promoting a shift towards the use of the vast reserves of renewable energy
available in our country.

3. Break with the excessive centralization of power and utilities. Develop a
governance plan based on decentralization of decisions, services and
resources and strengthening the capacities of local governments and the
establishment of mechanisms to ensure the direct participation of actors of
civil society in Haiti.

4. Break with the current destructive land ownership policies. Implement a
process of reorganizing the physical space in rural areas and cities,
allowing the development of public spaces and social institutions and
resources, such as public schools, public parks, housing, etc.. This
involves conducting comprehensive agrarian reform and urban reform which
would enable solutions for the hundreds of thousands of people who are
homeless. To meet these challenges it is necessary to redefine the role of
the state and its functioning.

Building a new model of development requires a comprehensive, consistent and
widespread mobilization of popular sectors with an interest in
decentralization and greater access to public resources and services
(health, education, clean water, sanitation, communication, power and
housing). Those who were traditionally exploited and excluded should be the
main protagonists in this process.

This national project that we foresee for the sustainable development of
Haiti, must allow a new system of public education that facilitates access
to quality education for all children, without discrimination, valuing the
Creole language spoken by all people, raising awareness in favor of strong
environmental protection, focusing on the preventing further vulnerability
to natural disasters.

It is necessary to reorganize the health system with hospitals in various
departments, valuation of traditional medicine, and particular attention to
women's health.

Reorganization of the justice system will facilitate access to justice for
all and will fight against corruption. We want a state that has the ability
to manage and direct the country, a state capable of taking the lead and
coordinating international aid efforts.

In terms of international relations, the country must develop new
relationships with friendly countries, strengthening our ability to defend
our interests and fostering friendship among states and peoples. With the
Dominican Republic we must formalize relationships around various issues,
including trade, binational markets, and migrants rights.

We request the cancellation of all of Haiti’s debts. The tragedy of the
earthquake should not cause Haiti to spiral into greater indebtedness.

The social institutions and NGOs that have signed this statement call for
mobilization and soon will undertake to organize an Assembly for the Haitian
People to address the challenges and to define strategies for the
alternative and sustainable reconstruction of our country.

Signed:
PAPDA, JURISHA, ENFOFANM, GAAR, Fondation TOYA, AFASDA, Gammit Timoun, GIDH
Group entevansyon, MPP, CROSE, KSIL, KONAREPA, PADAD, MOREPLA, SOFA,
Mouvement scolaire Foi et Joie, Media Alternative, Comission Episcopale
Nationale Justice et Paix, CHANDEL, ICPJLDH,REBA, TKL, Cellule Réflexions et
d’Actions Sj, Confédération des Haïtiens pour la Réconciliation, VEDEK,
CODHA


Participants in the March 13-14 Conference
Haití
1. PAPDA
2. JURISHA
3. ENFOFANM
4. GAAR
5. Fondation TOYA
6. AFASDA
7. Gammit Timoun
8. GIDH Group entevansyon
9. MPP
10. CROSE
11. KSIL
12. KONAREPA
13. PADAD
14. MOREPLA
15. SOFA
16. Mouvement scolaire Foi et Joie
17. AlterPress
18. Comission Episcopale Nationale Justice et Paix
19. CHANDEL
20. ICPJLDH
21. REBA
22. TKL
23. Cellule Réflexions et d’Actions Jésuites
24. Confédération des Haïtiens pour la Réconciliation
25. VEDEK
26. CODHA

Dominican Republic

27. Centro Cultural Poveda
28. Red Ciudadana
29. PROGRESSIO
30. Plataforma Ayuda Haití
31. SJRM
32. Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo
33. CIPAF
34. Cuidad Alternativa
35. Comité Dominicano DDHH
36. Red Urbana Popular
37. Confederación Nacional de Unidad Sindical
38. Redesol - IDEAC
39. COOPHABITAT
40. Cooperativa Unión Integral
41. COPADEBA
42. Foro Social Alternativo
43. Articulación Campesina (ANC)

International

44. Alianza International de Habitantes (AIH)
45. Asamblea de los Pueblos del Caribe
46. CASAL de Solidaritat con America Central de Prat de Llobregat.
47. Manos Unidas España

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