Haiti Just Cannot Seem to Get a Break, Hire Them to Work!

I was thinking the same thing as the United Nations people apparently. Hire the people in Haiti to work, clearing the rubble, making things, doing what they can to restore some semblance of flow to get the supplies and other necessities moving.

The U.N. has an idea to hire those in Haiti at a very low wage, not to pick on them, not to make them suffer more, but to keep things in balance with money and supplies.

While I think this plan has some very good merits, I wonder how well those of us who are not there could take up this plan, pay for some of those who are homeless and desperate to work.

The idea behind this is relatively simple; give the people who want to DO something a place to do it. So, why not involve those of us who are not on the scene to do the same? Give us something to do as well.

No, I don’t have all the answers as to how this could work, and I damn well will NOT advocate abuse of people who have suffered so much, as some fools would do, may well be doing. I remember all too bloody well how many scam artists and jackasses robbed those people in New Orleans of hope, funds and left them to suffer. May those who did this rot!

But, if this is done with ethics, compassion, and as a way to give the Haitians a way to get back up on their feet while doing something positive, something that will, in the long run, rebuild their country and homes, it is an idea well worth following through.

So, for those who want something to do, on both sides of this equation, this may be one small step on the road. It means that groups would have to get together money, find a way to contact someone who is HONEST, willing to avoid corruption, and willing to take this on and get people the work and dignity they so rightly deserve.

Perhaps it may be someone who works in administration with an NGO, perhaps it may be someone who is a business student who has the strength of character and enthusiasm to take this on, maybe it would be someone who is retired, who wants to give something back. But whoever this person or group is, this may just be the fulfillment of both sides of the desire to make a difference in real terms.

I may well put this forward to some of the people I know here, those who have the integrity and drive to go to Haiti and get this moving.

Now, what are the wages the U.N. are willing to pay? By our standards it is a very poor wage, but given the standard wage in Haiti, a huge boost to someone who is trying to feed their kids. The wage I heard is $5.00 per day. So, if people can get together say ……. $100, and find say…..10 people, that would hire 10 people for 20 days to work. Not a huge sum on either side, but definitely better than nothing.

What this would also do is take the load off the international forces, the NGO’s, and allow far more progress for everyone in Haiti.

New Orleans

It is long overdue that someone in the US realizes that there are still huge parts of New Orleans and the surrounding areas that have yet to even see the beginning of restoration. There are hundreds of people who are STILL waiting for the funding for such basic things as trades to come in and put the electrical, plumbing, heating and walls into some semblance of repair.

The Ninth Ward basically looks much the same as it did about a month after the water receded. There is a woman who just wants what she was promised, help to get back into her own home.

When the hurricane hit, she graciously agreed to take care of a neighbour’s pet, but when she found no help coming after 2 weeks, she had to make the decision to shoot not only the neighbour’s pet, but her own two.

All this woman wants is for the utility company to get the power back to her street, find someone who can help her get the drywall and other rotting material out and get things going again.

Where the hell are those who promised help?

There are still kids living with their families on the street because they are still waiting for the help they were promised. Remember all the outpouring of good feelings and offers?

Apparently these people don’t deserve any of the promises.

I know some of the Canadians have gone down to Saint Bernard Parish just after Christmas to put back the services and structure for those who have perhaps the hardest jobs. Firefighters, police officers, ambulance attendants, even hospital workers are still living in homes that are literally falling apart around them?

What the hell? How can anyone expect these people to work, sleep, and keep their calm in situations when they have a home that is still a mess more than 2 bloody years after Hurricane Katrina left?

Canadian wood workers and carvers took down a huge load of carved wooden toys to the kids who went through hell in the Dome, perhaps were raped in the washrooms, and yet are still living on the street!

If you really want to help, either write the congressman/woman or Senator in your area, or better yet, go to your local home renovation supply store and buy a gift certificate for Habitat for Humanity. They are in that area, getting those who need homes built, and the people who get the homes must work on the houses.

I find it hard to see any credibility in the US Adminstration telling the world they are “restoring” places like Iraq and Afghanistan, when they apparently cannot even restore their own country areas. There are no insurgents shooting in New Orleans, Saint Bernard Parish, the Ninth Ward, so what the hell is their excuse now?