Haiti has endured its share of struggles and problems even before feeling the disastrous effects of the earthquake that struck just outside of Port-au-Prince. Rony Delva, the project coordinator for Upward Bound at Fairfield, has experienced some of those struggles firsthand and has a call to assist in Haiti’s future.
Delva was born in the city of Gonaives, in northern Haiti. The city was once known mainly for being Haiti’s “City of Independence” as it was the site where Jean-Jacques Dessalines declared Haiti’s independence from France in 1804. But in 2004, in a span of four years, Hurricanes Jeanne and Hanna wreaked the city. Major flooding and mudslides killed and displaced thousands.
“Haiti has seen its share of disasters,” said Delva. “My hometown is practically destroyed. I’m personally saddened, but in other ways, I feel lucky that I’m here.”
Delva’s parents moved to the United States when he was four years old, but he remained in Haiti to finish school. He joined his mother in 1982, but Delva still has family in Haiti.
“I found out yesterday, I have a brother and cousins in Haiti and they are all fine,” said Delva. “My cousin was missing after the earthquake. He was at work and couldn’t get home. It’s a very tragic sad situation. It wasn’t just the earthquake, but also poorly built buildings.”
Delva warned that similar situations could happen in the future if Haiti doesn’t rebuild properly.
“I’m extremely saddened by the loss of so many lives,” said Delva. “But, I’m starting to think ahead, the same situation could happen again. How do we rebuild after the media is gone? We need zoning laws where you can’t just build a house anywhere. We need to build the infrastructure. Houses in Haiti are like sandcastles; they fall and crumble.”
Delva pointed to three main problems in Haiti: corruption, incompetence and waste.
During Delva’s time in Haiti, the country was ruled by Francois Duvalier until 1971 and then his son Jean-Claude Duvalier until 1986.
“Since Baby Doc (Jean-Claude) left in 1986, for the last 20 years, things have gotten worse,” said Delva. “Things were calmer and more peaceful. The poverty was there, but it wasn’t talked about. So many presidents have been elected, overthrown or didn’t do anything. That needs to be addressed. Businesses don’t invest in Haiti. People who own businesses in Haiti send their money overseas to foreign banks. People like to blame Haiti, but it’s not Haiti. Haiti is just a country, it’s people.”
Delva acknowledged that charities and aid are appreciated, but he would like to see more investments made in Haiti.
“It’s only three hours away, workforce ready and Haitians are very nice, hard-working people,” said Delva. “If Haitian Americans can work two jobs here, own their own homes, why can’t we do it in Haiti? Poverty is ingrained in the environment and how we see things.”
Haiti has a great potential for growth according to Delva with half of its inhabitants being under the age of 25, a percentage supported by the UN. He was also pleased with the response of governments from around the world after the earthquake, not only the United States, but also countries such as China, Israel, the Netherlands and Brazil, all of which sent money and people.
“I just hope that with all this money, some of it stays in Haiti,” said Delva. “Over half of Haiti’s workforce is under the age of 25, so they have a workforce ready. Haitians send hundreds of millions of dollars back, but for every one U.S. dollar, 95 cents goes back. Only five cents stays in Haiti.”
Delva envisions a rebuilt country with infrastructure that will hold up over time along with Haitians keeping businesses and money in their own country.
“We are very proud,” said Delva. “We were the first independent black country. We were one of two independent counties in the Western Hemisphere. The United States in 1776, then there was Haiti in 1804. Haitians are very proud, but it seems we don’t take that pride far enough. We need to ask what can I do to make a difference? Demand more for our government and ourselves. We need to use that pride. That would be my challenge: use that pride.”
In order to properly rebuild Haiti, the infrastructure will need an overhaul along with investments in Haiti. Delva cited the proverb, “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime,” as a basis for improving Haiti. He was pleased with the money being raised and the charities already in Haiti, but that Haiti needs more investment in the country.
“I would love to see Fairfield students to find a project and have an internship in Haiti,” said Delva. “Have an internship where you go learn and give something back. I would also like to see opportunity for Haitians to come here and learn and then go back to Haiti. We cannot see it as a charity case. People do charities for tax-purposes, but with investments, you want a return on your money.”
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