Carpet Baggers and Matthew 25

[bcholmes]

Latest dispatches from Matthew 25 House:

THE CARPET BAGGERS ARE BUSY
MARCH 8, 2010

While studying about the American Civil War in elementary school I remember learning the term " Carpetbagger ", those people from the North who traveled to the South to make a profit from the devastation left by the war . Carrying their belongings in a satchel made from carpet material, they were given dubious title of "Carpetbaggers"

Although carpet bags have long since been replaced by back packs, and computer cases, the purpose is the same - - to make a quick profit on the devastation of the lives of others. I know I’m cynical after having my heart connected to the people of Haiti for so long, but it really is beginning to feel like the invasion of the carpetbaggers down here. There are articles about the ability for engineering companies, sanitation companies, earthquake and hurricane resistant construction companies to make a profit.

All of these things are needed, but they always shove aside the Haitian poor. It appears that again as always down here : the already rich will become richer. The poor, as always must fend for themselves liquidly moving into what little economic space is left to them. One can already see that their lives will not change. There are conferences in Miami, Port-au-Prince, and New York on "The New Haiti" which appears to be a new version of "The Old Haiti" with less concrete.

While all of the clusters meet, the conferences convene, the working poor conduct their meager commerce along the side of the road, and the subsistance farmers try to replace the seed they’ve lost, what is left of the Haitian Government, has decided that it must begin to retake control. This will start by requiring Non governmental organizations (NGOs) to register with the government. That sounds reasonable until an NGO representative decides to attempt to actually do it. I’ve mentioned the Portugese group that works here in previous posts - - inspiring people every one. Well, a clinic in conjunction with the UN seemed like a much needed longer term presence down near wheree they are working on Champs des Mas.

This they learn (again, reasonably) requires a permit, and a registration of their NGO. The registration is one piece of paper. They bring this one piece of paper to the ministry office seven times, and each time it’s not quite perfect. On the eighth trip they are registered, and they can file for their permit. Their request is to open a medical clinic in conjunction with the UN for a period of six months. They receive permission to open a clinic for two weeks. It took two weeks to get themselves registered. This is why in Haiti people tend to "just do it.", because doing it correctly is too complicated and frustrating to even begin to explain.

It would be bad enough if this was just the Haitian Government, but the UN Clusters tend to be just as red tape tangled as the Haitian Government - - or nearly so. Most relief NGOs are down here for the short term, and just when one thinks they have the system figured out to obtain whatever is needed, there is a turnover in personnel, and the new people come up with yet a new system or a new form or even an entirely new direction or focus.

The agriculture group from the Haiti Response Coalition has been trying to get some help for Haitian farmers. They were encouraged in their effort by the head of the UN Agriculture Cluster. However at last count they’ve had to do the same proposal three different times because the forms or the format for the forms, or the way to write the proposal has been changed.

And so, the rains have come, and people are still in the street, and there are not enough tents, tarps,latrines, or food. Infections such as scabies are rampant in the camps. Children have stomach aches, and colds, and upper respiratory problems, and intestinal parasites, as do their parents. But the carpet baggers are here, and they meet and talk and plan for a New Haiti, and what are billed as conferences are often simply sales meetings.

However, along with the carpetbaggers continue to come nurses, and doctors, phsical therapists, and strong backs and loving hands willing to work along side the Haitian people and these bring compassion, and renewed hope.