Haiti’s Environmental Condition and The Dream of a Ecological Politics

Why Must We Act Now?

Our country’s environmental condition is a far from being positive. The latest inclemency have had potentially devastating consequences, and no one should remain insensitive to the damages due to the degradation of our environment. The numbers are alarming: 62 dead, 16 missing, nearly 80 injured, 18,712 people forced to move, 10,226 sinister-struck families, 8,735 damaged houses and 1,853 destroyed. Therefore, we are faced with this alternative: to combine urbanity and humanity to protect our ecosystem, or to perish. The priority today is to focus on real problems rather than to lock ourselves up in the constitution polemics, which are our people’s last worries. In a country where the increasing deforestation and the degradation of our marine coasts are devastating, the supply of potable water and the health and safety of the population are no longer guaranteed, where natural disasters are frequent, we must, in order to find adequate solutions, work towards the emergence of a real society project aiming at protecting the population from future hazards. An ecological political system based on sustainable development is a must to ensure a true sense of safety and a better quality of life.

Anticipating rain won’t be a such a stressful threat for the population anymore, as the people is now exposed to all sorts of hazards.

I am convinced that ecological politics is the best solution to ensure the collective wellbeing of the Haitian people. However, in order for it to become a reality, a strong commitment from the entire society is necessary. No one can afford to remain passive in front of the country’s desolation towards the immense waste of natural resources. It is the responsibility of all citizens, from all social categories, to require that the gap be diminished between the richer and the poorer. We must recognize that, very often, distress and poverty situations lead to despair for all of those living under the poverty line, such that attacking trees remains the only option to buy bread and sustain their family. It is a deplorable fact. And trying to deny it is being unforgivably irresponsible. Deplorable fact! Nevertheless, it is still reversible. Reversible as long as and only if the political actors agree to start acting. Protecting the environment is a matter of political will more than mere political catch lines. The environmental and developmental issues must no longer be treated as secondary topics by our politics. Only when we acknowledge that both work together, will we be able to reach a Haiti where Haitian people – including those living abroad – will find a land to live a worthy life, in a healthy environment.

This land is the Haiti of tomorrow. A green county to build together. It is the dream of a country that will become ecologically appealing, where the population will be at peace with themselves. Together, we must turn make this dream reality.  

It is imperative to act together, now, before it’s too late!!!

Gary GUITEAU

Director and founder of the JGF