The OAS in Haiti: Investing in a Country’s Future

Haiti has come a long way. One of the first nations in the Americas to achieve independence following a slave rebellion in 1804, the Caribbean nation has also experienced political violence and instability throughout its history, including civil oppression and outside political intervention. But in recent years, optimism had shone more brightly on the country’s future. As José Miguel Insulza, Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), put it after the recent earthquake that devastated Haiti: “Only a few short days ago, positive stories were emerging from Haiti. People were talking about political stability, nascent economic growth and a long-deserved and hard-earned sense of optimism about the future. Businesses were reinvesting in the nation, bringing new jobs; and elections were scheduled for the end of February.” However, all of this has been lost, making it necessary to start all over again.

To the OAS, Haiti has for many years been one of its priorities. Since the opening of the OAS National Office in Haiti in 1956, the Organization has led a variety of long-term projects related to the promotion of democracy, sound governance and human rights. Among other initiatives, the OAS has pursued the implementation of a permanent citizen registration process and the digitalization of the country’s civil registry. It has helped to promote democracy through Electoral Observation Missions and through the technical support offered to the Provisional Electoral Council. Also, the OAS has provided business skills training for young entrepreneurs; helped in developing an awareness of human rights and played an advisory role in the matter; and trained Haitian government officials and members of the private sector on key issues of the trade agenda. Recently, the OAS also had sought to foster social inclusion among at-risk youths through a youth program of musical orchestras.

But in the aftermath of the January earthquake, the OAS has been forced to reassess and modify some of the priorities of its Haiti strategy. Some active long-term projects have been placed on hold and resources reallocated. Nevertheless, the Organization’s commitment to the Caribbean nation is stronger than ever. In the days and weeks that followed the devastation, the top political body of the hemisphere led coordination efforts of emergency relief aid among its Member States. It also raised funds to benefit the victims of the earthquake, and worked with other inter-American agencies to assess the medium- and long-term needs of the government and people of Haiti.

It was a role the Organization had never played on this scale. “The OAS response to the earthquake in Haiti is evidence that the OAS is not just a political organization but can also play the role of a humanitarian organization when needed, and it has been successful in coordinating emergency relief aid to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti,” said OAS Assistant Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin. “Often we think of the OAS in political terms, but we have learned a lot of good lessons about how to respond to natural catastrophes on this scale. We will certainly make post-evaluations so we may respond more effectively in the future. I think the response of the OAS and its Member States to the earthquake in Haiti was quick and effective.”

After a short trip to Haiti following the earthquake, Ramdin identified at least four areas in which the OAS had an opportunity to assist Haiti in its rebuilding process, including: support in the area of governance and the strengthening of state institutions; technical assistance in the electoral process, including continuing a civil registry program; capacity building in trade, tourism, and investment; and the promotion of education opportunities through scholarships and agreements with various universities of the hemisphere. Ramdin also identified food security and short-term job creation as critical issues for the country, and noted the importance of a unified coordination effort on the ground.

Lessons learned
Though the 7.0 earthquake was undoubtedly large in any scale, complicit in its destruction was a lack of adequate building codes—in Port-au-Prince, some 70 percent of buildings collapsed in broad areas, a higher percentage in neighboring towns closer to the epicenter. Shortly before the earthquake, the OAS had completed a study on building codes in the Caribbean nation, and was aware of existing severe building problems. “Clearly one of the things that will need to be looked at seriously in the post-relief period of rebuilding Haiti is that any building must be constructed in accordance with building codes and with assessments of where it is safe to build,” Ramdin said. “This is going to be a major challenge, but if we can achieve it, then we’ll be able to prevent another devastating natural disaster on this scale.”

Prevention seems to be the key—in 1989, a 7.0-grade earthquake in San Francisco caused only 63 deaths. At the OAS, disaster-response preparation will continue to be a key focus of its work. Through the Inter-American Committee on Natural Disaster Reduction (IACNDR), established in 1999 by the General Assembly, the OAS and other inter-American agencies have been working in coordination with Member State governments on issues related to natural disasters, including the prevention and mitigation of their effects. The Haitian experience will help focus the IACNDR’s efforts to seek ways to reduce the loss of human life and property through improvements in emergency preparedness and response. The OAS Permanent Council’s Committee on Hemispheric Security (CHS) recognizes that natural disasters pose serious security issues for the entire region and will continue to meet regularly to evaluate suggestions from the IACNDR and make recommendations to the OAS General Assembly regarding natural hazard risk reduction policy.

With the continuing support of the inter-American and global communities, Haiti will have a better chance to regain optimism and emerge stronger and better prepared than ever to face any obstacles in its path towards a safer and more prosperous future.

February, 2010

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