Ricardo Seitenfus, former special representative of the Secretary General of the OAS (Organization of American States) in Haiti for two years deserves the “Knight of the Republic Honor” that he received from the Haitian Government on March 2nd of 2011.
The Brazilian Diplomat was dismissed from his duties as the OAS special envoy in Haiti after he pointed finger, December 20, 2010 in his interview given to Swiss Journal “Le temps”, at the International Community as the main progress stoppers in Haiti. In that interview, Mr. Seitenfus was very critical toward the United Nations that have operated in Haiti since 2004. He denounced the fact that UN have sent over 10 000 Soldiers to Haiti while that country is not in war situation and is not also considered as international threat.
In that Interview, he quoted:
“Haiti is not Iraq”.
“Haiti is not Afghanistan”.
“United Nations mission in Haiti is to freeze the government and to transform Haitians in prisoners of their own island. The international forces in Haiti shape the relationship between Haiti and the international”.
“The Occident is a colonialist, racist, and a world of slavery that based its richness on the exploitation of third world countries”.
“In spite of many international aids that the country receives, Haiti is the breathing proof that the UN mission has miserably failed”.
“The throw of big numbers (about $11 billions) for the reconstruction attracted NGOs who decide to go to Haiti not as humanitarians but as businessmen”.
“The world has never known how to deal with Haiti, so he ended up ignoring it... We want to make Haiti a capitalist country; an export platform for U.S. market is absurd…”
“Haiti needs doctors, anthropologists, sociologists, historians, etc because Haiti is too complex to quickly jump in it like we know who Haitians are and what their needs can be.”
“Compassion is necessary but charity should not be the engine of international relations”.
We need to rethink how we do business in Haiti as well as offering better exportation opportunities for Haitians. It is the independence, the sovereignty, fair trade, and the respect for others that should be.”
[...] We want to make Haiti a capitalist country, an export platform for U.S. market is absurd [...]
He thought that the original sin of Haiti was its early freedom and independence taken from its colonizer France in 1804 and it has been paying for its proximity to the United States.
The author of the book “Haiti: Sovereignty of the Dictators” was recalled after that bombshell interview and was dismissed from his job. For being able to say loudly what many think lowly, in sign of recognition of his will and courage to defend the Haitian people, the Haitian President, Rene Preval, has ordered him the Knight of the Republic of Haiti. A worthy honor for someone who has been so honest about the current relationship between Haiti and the international community.
Haitian people are still struggling to recover from massive damages caused by the catastrophic earthquake that struck the country last year (January 12, 2010). Billions of dollars have been pledged on behalf of Haiti, but only 15% of that money has so far reached the country through NGOs and some short-term projects enhanced by the government. Mr. Seitenfus thinks that too many doctors can kill the patient. But with so many active international aid groups without any regulation and coordination, Haiti will remain for a while as the Republic of 12000 NGOs.
Norly GERMAIN
ng03082011
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