WHAT HAITI NEEDS TO DEVELOP (•) We come up with only 10 points, which are very important. We know there are many others we could mention, and we have published them already through articles that we have written, and you can verify our work for 30 years of research and publications.

We don't put youthin these ten (10) points, but youth is important. They turn their back on youth. They don't have any plans for them, and the candidates never have any plan or project to help young people. They just tell them to “go away” after voting for these candidates.

Young people are leaving the country; they are praying to go elsewhere. We see a big problem with candidates. They have no written vision to say, “Here what we propose for Haiti’s development for the twenty, twenty-five years to come.” We do not see such things written in books or articles to show their vision anywhere.

Ascending to power to make money is the only thing that occupies their mind. As many people would mock them, it's a «Get out of here so that I can get by for my turn !» philosophy. So, let's ask all aspire candidates to write down their vision (what they would propose for Haiti in the next twenty or twenty-five years for its development).

(1). AGRICULTURE (Agrikilti). The earlier the better in terms of educating the young generation while growing up to be conscious of the related problems related to agriculture. Among these problems we can mention: deforestation, erosion, irrigation (despite water can be found in many places), the absence of machinery such as tractors… [See article: Drought and access to water in Haiti].

Students would not just sit down in class studying through books some species of plants (those that still exist and those that have disappeared). It would be a good idea to teach them how to create nurseries  to help with reforestation projects and the importance of doing that. It would be good to organize field trips throughout the countryside with students. That way, they would become familiar with the country’s geography instead of just studying it in books only and they would have a general picture of the country’s problems. It would be necessary to show them videos dealing with the subjects.

Can we succeed with literacy while people in Haiti are dying of hunger? Would the masses (the majority of the population) care about how to read and write when they cannot eat, cannot get a job, cannot have any activities to give them some cash? The answer is “no”. So, as one has been following closely the political situation in Haiti, it is crucial to take note to see if any of the leaders has a plan to approach the agricultural issues to bring some changes.

(2). BUSINESS  (Biznis)… (Many) Haitians work like robots in the United States, without putting aside at least 15% (fifteen per cent) of their salary in a special fund to save money for their retirement. We are not blaming them either because there was nobody, no Haitian institution to tell them that. We can understand how hard they work, not only they must pay their monthly bills (in the United States, Canada, and in other parts of the diaspora) but also, many of them are supporting some families in Haiti (and never told them or give them advise to learn to develop some small business in Haiti so that they learn to help themselves, to learn some trades to survive, and to learn to create their economic independence).
This pandemic teaches us many things in terms of how it’s important for us to learn to prepare ourselves for tomorrow (on all forms), and to stop counting on neighboring countries for everything, even to feed us when we have good soil that can produce all that we want. There is water almost everywhere (that could have been channeled in many places) in order to help with irrigation throughout the country for agriculture.

He who has information has power. Keep that in mind. How much information do people in our community have? There is a need for all Haitian Community Leaders to get together for a conference  on education (in general) in their local community. Save your money, and start investing as much as possible (when you are young). Please, teach your children to do that (even before they turn eighteen). In what can I invest? That’s an important question to think of, and to debate it with others who may have some experience in the field or in business. Your time is also precious; don’t waste it. Use it well to your advantage (to work, study, and help your community by volunteering some of that time).

(3). DIASPORA (Dyaspora). How do we see the development of Diaspora in Haiti? In the diaspora we will find the top scholars, great intellectuals, Haitian professionals. Unfortunately, we don't really see a bridge that exists between Haiti and the diaspora to do some major works in Haiti. Some people in the diaspora who try to do what they can. Often times, they just send money, and people in Haiti when they see the diaspora, they just see money, but they don’t take advantage of human resources in diaspora to help with Haiti's development.

Thus, we cannot really talk about Haiti's development, and leave behind the diaspora. This diaspora has brains, competent people who would like to see Haiti’s development. They would like to return to Haiti for a vacation and even enjoy a golden retirement there. So when we talk about Haiti's development, it's also important to see the diaspora. So when we talk about Haiti's development, it's also important to see the diaspora. Laws in Haiti should not block it as we see in the 1987 Constitution where legislators prevent the diaspora from taking part in Haitian politics.

(4). EDUCATION  (Edikasyon). Since Haiti’s independence, we have not seen a practical education. What we see is always a colonial education that prepares Haitians to leave Haiti and serve other countries. Not only this education is one that is colonial but also, it’s one that is not focused on the country’s development. It’s  not a practical one. We see how the evolution of technology in the twentieth century, how developed countries have a practical education.

That's what we would like to see in Haiti where we spend many years in school, going to university, spent seven years in elementary school, seven years in high school, four to six years at university and then we can't think of how to develop a small business. We can’t use what we learn in school to help ourselves. It's about time that we cry out down with a colonial education! Down with an underdeveloped education! Hail to a practical education! Hail to an education that everyone needs in Haiti to serve their country! Hail to an education to serve society! Hail to an education to do business! Hail to an education to make money without having to pray to leave Haiti!

(5). IRRIGATION (Irigasyon). It is very important in the case of agriculture. Water is being wasted in Haiti. We write about it; we make vocals on that. Well, these waters are being wasted, and end up in the sea and when it rains, there is no means of catching rainwater to use for irrigation.

(6). NATIONAL GUARD / GENDARMERIE (Gad Nasyonal, Jandamri). We envisage a gendarmerie of 15,000 people (men and women) for example. These soldiers would not only train in the use of weapons, but they would also be ready to serve the country when it is experiencing a certain crisis. For example, when the country has to deal with some natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and hurricanes... Well when such things happen, a gendarmerie of 15,000 people would be deployed across the country to provide their rescue. Thus, the national police (not trained with a small gun around their waist) cannot really deal with the problem of nationwide insecurity caused by gangs that have heavy weapons. Such a gendarmerie (made up of men and women) would thwart these bandits and establish security in the country to protect the people.

(7). PORTS & AIRPORTS (Pò & Ayewopò). A country cannot be developed without ports and airports for import-export trade of big ships that would dock at Haiti's major ports (in the north, south, east, and west). And it is very important to have ports and airports because we are watching large tourist boats carrying thousands of people well, landing at ports and airports, airplanes landing, bringing tourists.

(8). REFORESTATION (Rebwazman). It is a big problem throughout Haiti because Haitians cut down most trees to make  charcoal. It's a big problem, and there are no serious or sustainable reforestation projects to curb the charcoal or wood cutting problem, and even trees bearing fruits for example that could feed people freely. Imagine if we were to do a reforestation campaign in every municipality planting tree bearing fruit everywhere, by all roads, in our yard and creating forests!

(9). TOURISM (Touris). When looking at the neighboring country how many billions of US dollars made from tourists coming to the Dominican Republic each year, tourist resorts and even people from Haiti who have money go to these resorts. Foreign presidents, and royals come to these resorts in the Dominican Republic, bringing billions of dollars annually. We see that it is very important for Haiti to work on their tourist industry also as other places in the Caribbean and in Central America position themselves for that as well.

(10). ROADS  (Wout) [Questions & Understanding, included as lesson plan]. We cannot have the development of a country without roads. It is through roads we can decongest Port-au-Prince. There is a serious problem with rural exodus where people are leaving their communes (municipalities) to settle in the capital looking for a better life. Well, if there were roads, for example connecting all municipalities, they would not need to crumble up in Port-au-Prince looking for jobs. Their municipalities would be developed, and they would go and sell their goods and products during market days in the neighboring communes.

ANNEXED TEXTS

VEDRINE, Emmanuel W. Agriculture the first target for Haiti's development • Agrikilti ta dwe premye sib nan devlopman Ayiti.
---. Ann pale de bwa ak fri Ayiti!. (Ref. Materyèl Edikatif pou Bileng Ayisyen, pp. 160-180). (Let's talk about trees and fruits in Haiti! : Parlons de bois et fruits en Haïti).
---. Articles & Essays (atik e esè).
---. Articles related to politics : Atik ki an rapò ak politik.
---. Ayiti, 37 ane san pwogrè : Haiti, 37 years without progress.
---. Agriculture and irrigation in Haitii : Agrikilti e irigasyon an Ayiti.
---. Ann pale de bwa ak fri Ayiti!. (Let's talk about trees and fruits in Haiti! : Parlons de bois et fruits en Haïti).
---. Ayiti va bèl lè n va antere negativite yo : Haiti Will be beautiful when we bury the negativities.
---. Bilingual Education in Haiti: Theory and Practice | Edikasyon Bileng Ayiti: Teyori e Pratik.
---. Civic duty should be mandatory for all young people in Haiti : Travay sivik ta dwe obligatwa pou tout jèn an Ayiti.
---. Chanje mantalite pou ranvèse kondisyon povrete Ayiti : Changing mentality to curb poverty condition in Haiti.
---. Dis konsèy pratik pou ede jèn Ayiti aprann ede tèt yo, e devlope lidèchif efikas : Ten practical advise to help youths in Haiti learn to help themselves, and to develop effective leadership.  
---. Dyalòg sou rebwazman an Ayiti (Dialog on reforestation in Haiti : Dialogue sur le reboisement en Haïti).
---. Educating Haitian Youth and the Haitian Community in Dyaspora : Edike Jèn Ayisyen e Kominote Ayisyen nan diaspora.
---. Enfòmatize Ayiti, e estrateji pou sa fèt.
---. Essays’ models to help Haitian Students (high school and university level) with writing.
---. Estrateji pou devlope wout Ayiti : Strategies to develop roads in Haiti.
---. Haiti and the destruction of nature : Ayiti, yon peyi ravaje nou dwe sispann detwi.
---. In Kreyol and English : An Kreyòl e an Anglè.
---. INSMINOGEC (Institution Mixte de la Nouvelle Génération des Cayes) – Teaching Materials for Haitian Bilingual Programs in Haiti (courtesy E. W. Védrine Creole Project).
---. Kèk tèm nan Sezon sechrès Ayiti pou disètasyon : Some themes in (the novel) Sezon sechrès Ayiti for essays].
---. Kesyon sou dis (10) chapit woman Sezon sechrès Ayiti : Questions on the ten (10 chapters of the novel Sezon sechrès Ayiti. Lesson Plan model for Bilingual Teachers.
---. Mother Nature has risen up against us. (English translation). (Original French text, «Un certain mardi de janvier”, by Nicolas André. Boston Haitian Reporter.
---. Pyebwa libète : The liberty tree. [In Materyèl Edikatif pou Bileng Ayisyen, 1994, pp. 172].
---. Rat konnen, Chat konnen, barik mantèg la sou siveyans (Rat knows, Cat knows, the barrel of lard is being watched). Retoric in Haitian Creole.
---. Reflection on February 7, 2019: 33 years after the fall of the Duvalier’s Regime : Refleksyon sou 7 Fevriye 2019: 33 ane apre Rejim Duvalier a tonbe.
---. Refleksyon sou aktivite pou oryante lajenès an Ayiti. Reflection on activities to orientate youths in Haiti.
---. Rekonstriksyon Ayiti: yon defi ak yon konbit manch long.
---. Sechrès e aksè a dlo an Ayiti : Sécheresse et accès à l’eau en Haïti.
---. Séisme à Haïti – 12 janvier 2010 : Haiti’s earthquake -- January 12, 2010.
---. Siklòn, Tanpèt, Move Tan, Tranblemanntè: ranje kabann ou avan dòmi nan je w.
---. So many political parties, so little progress.
---. Some Reflections for a New Haiti after January 12, 2010.
---. Selfishness, a virus destroying the Haitian Community : Egoyis, yon viris k ap detwi kominote ayisyen.
---. Sezon sechrès Ayiti. (2nd. ed.). JEBCA Editions.  224 p. [English summary : Resumé en anglais]. [© The author’s copyright : © Dwa otè a] . [© Lexical data (for hyper base software for dictionaries) : © Done leksikal (pou lojisyèl ipèbaz pou diksyonè)]. [In Papiamentu language, Temporada di sekura na Haiti. [First original Creole version was published in 1994: Soup to Nuts Publishers, Cambridge, MA. 1994. 128 p. [The novel has been translated to English by the author (Emmanuel W. Védrine). [Text in pdf format : Tèks an fòma pdf]. VEDCREP: Boston (edition, 2013, 163 p.
---. Temporary shelter in Haiti Abri pwovizwa Ayiti.
---. Ten gifts for all Haitians : Dis kado pou tout Ayisyen.
---. Trades, Professions, Careers: Orientation Training for Haitian Students in Haiti.
---. Tranblemanntè 14 dawou 2021 kraze komin L’Azile (Lazil) ak Sid Ayiti (enkli resous an liy pou ede Lazil e lòt komin) -- Vèsyon anglè: Haiti’s August 14, 2021 earthquake destroying the commune of L’Asile (Lazil) and South Haiti (including online resources to help L’Asile, and other communes).
---. Twenty cents of consciousness to become a better person : Ven kòb konsyans pou vin yon pi bon moun.
---. Twenty points in our resolution for 2023 : Ven pwen nan rezolisyon nou pou 2023.
---. Teaching materials for schools in Haiti: Materyèl pedagojik pou lekòl Ayiti.
---. Ten gifts for all Haitians : Dis kado pou tout Ayisyen.
---. The cultural richness s of Haiti,  an unexploited mine : Richès kiltirèl Ayiti, yon min ki poko esplwate.
---. What are the presidential candidates’ credentials in Haitian society?.
---. Welcome to L’Asile (Lazil), a commune in Haiti: Byenveni nan Lazil, yon komin Ayiti.
---. What’s really needed to be done to reforest Haiti? : Kisa k dwe fèt reyèlman pou rebwaze Ayiti?)
: Le reboisement d’Haïti, un défi politique et environmental.
---. What’s really needed to be done to reforest Haiti? : Kisa k dwe fèt reyèlman pou rebwaze Ayiti?)
: Le reboisement d’Haïti, un défi politique et environmental.
---. 12 Janvye 2010, yon pèt kapital pou milye entelektyèl ayisyen.

Courtesy : Koutwazi
E. W. Védrine Creole Project, Inc.
Network: Educating Haitians in Haiti, and Haitians in Diaspora
Rezo: Edike Ayisyen Ayiti, e Ayisyen nan Dyaspora
Boston, Massachusetts

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