Journal of Social Researches Government, Poverty and Corruption
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14 Article Journal of Social Researches June 2019 Vol.5 No.15 14-34 Government, poverty and corruption in Haiti. Critical reflections on two social programs, brain drain and destination countries Gobierno, pobreza y corrupción en Haití. Reflexiones críticas sobre dos programas sociales, fuga de cerebros y países de destino LINDOR, Moïse*† El Colegio de Tlaxcala ID 1st Author: Moïse, Lindor / ORC ID: 0000-0002-6656-4306, CVU CONACYT ID: 311158 DOI: 10.35429/JSR.2019.15.5.14.34 Received March 20, 2019; Accepted June 30, 2019 Abstract Resumen This article aims to make a critical analysis of the Este artículo pretende hacer un análisis crítico del performance of the last Haitian governments as well as desempeño de los últimos gobiernos haitianos así como the factors that contribute to the rise of extreme poverty los factores que contribuyen en el auge de la pobreza in the country. It shows that corruption has a role in the extrema en el país. Se demuestra que la corrupción tiene violation of human rights, extreme poverty and social un papel en la violación de los derechos humanos, la segregation, socioeconomic inequality, institutional pobreza extrema y segregación social, la desigualdad mistrust and the lack of productivity of work whose socioeconómica, la desconfianza institucional y la falta situation results in the massive displacement and the de productividad de trabajo cuya situación tiene como brain drain of Haitians, although remittances remain the consecuencia el desplazamiento masivo y la fuga de main economic source of families but also influence the cerebros de los haitianos, aunque las remesas siguen national economy. Similarly, the impact of the two main siendo la principal fuente económica de las familias pero social programs for combating poverty is questioned. At también influyen en la economía nacional. De igual the end of the work, the results of the research carried out manera, se cuestiona el impacto de los dos principales in northeast and northwest, as well as the countries most programas sociales para el combate de la pobreza. Al wanted by this group of Haitians to migrate, are final del trabajo, se presentan los resultados de la presented. As a qualitative research, the focus groups investigación realizada en Noreste y Noroeste, así como methodology was used to gather information, perception los países más deseados por este grupo de haitianos para and evaluate the study instrument. As a result, a semi- migrar. Por lo tanto, se utilizó la metodología de los structured survey was used using a questionnaire with grupos de enfoque para recopilar información, la open and half open questions, and a structured technique percepción y evaluar el instrumento del estudio. En as a tool for evaluating and compiling research data. consecuencia, se usó una encuesta semiestructurada Also, the participant observation allowed us to mediante un cuestionario con preguntas abiertas y semi understand the daily life and the attitude of the abiertas, y una técnica estructurada como herramienta interviewees. para evaluar y recopilar los datos de la investigación. Asimismo, la observación participante nos permitió Extrem poverty, Government, Brain drain, Migratory comprender la vida cotidiana y la actitud los flow entrevistados. Pobreza extrema, Gobierno, Fuga de cerebros, Flujo migratorio Citation: LINDOR, Moïse. Government, poverty and corruption in Haiti. Critical reflections on two social programs, brain drain and destination countries. Journal of Social Researches. 2019, 5-15: 14-34 *Correspondence to Author (email: [email protected]) †Researcher contributing first author. ©ECORFAN-Republic of Nicaragua www.ecorfan.org/republicofnicaragua 14 Article Journal of Social Researches June 2019 Vol.5 No.15 14-34 Introduction Unfortunately, corruption, impunity, and incongruous public policies are a plague for In the region, socio conflicts and bad collective well-being. For example, a public governance are some events that literally reduce policy explaining the weakness of governments the ability of competition and productivity of is the massive importation of first-need any nation. Similarly, structural problems, products that completely destroys agricultural extreme poverty, inequalities, corruption, production and the local economy because violation of rights and freedom of individuals, domestic production remains neglected and lack of administrative ethics and incoherent Little interest to the authorities, therefore there public policies are some of the effects of poor is no productivity to compete and export performance of a government. These factors products in greater quantity. influence the democratic process and respect for human dignity. As a result, 4 billion imports are recorded at 2016. The increase in agricultural In this regard, should we consider that imports also follows an exponential curve in democracy is under threat and human rights are Haiti. The country imports rice, sugar and almost non-existent in the region? It is chicken chunks ($70 million); Palm oil (60 emphasized that sociopolitical circumstances million); 110 million cooking oil; $20 million and the violation of human rights weaken the cube broth. This is about $1 billion in holistic development of the Haitian nation for agricultural products and derivatives. On the several decades. However, the task becomes other hand, only agricultural products and more difficult when intimidating, derivatives are exported for a value of $60 discriminatory and manipulative actions come million. While more than a billion dollars are together with impunity to negatively impact the produced in agricultural products in Haiti (Le possibilities and dreams to live in a safe and Nouvelliste, 2016). But what can be said about adequate environment, where the vast majority business management and international trade of Residents do not have the same opportunities policy? We recall that the objectives of an to meet their basic needs, in a dignified and international trade policy are summarized in: permanent way. While the state should aspire to improving the distribution of income and trust and respect the rights of each member of standard of living of a population. society, ensuring not only their freedom of expression and effective public service benefits Strengthen the development of the but also creating strategies for responding to internal market. Comply with the international their difficulties in avoiding the migration flow commitments entered into. Another outstanding and the brain drain for lack of opportunities. challenge for the fight against poverty, inequality and corruption is the establishment A look at the displacement of Haitians to the of an impartial judicial system to strictly US and Latin America. Causes and effects enforce the laws and norms. Without overlooking the shortage of electricity, bad Similarly, it can be noted immediately that roads that impede the arrival of food products extreme poverty in Haiti not only refers to a on time but purchasing power also affects food chronic socioeconomic problem but describes basket, health, education and other public the social injustice and lack of commitment of services due to the Lack of employment the authorities, to generate significant changes opportunities and good government in favor of the groups vulnerable in terms of management for survival. Which is obviously a fundamental rights and freedoms. violation of human rights. Unfortunately, the authorities are unable to improve the vulnerable conditions, respect and For this reason, human rights offer tools enfoce the human rights of the population. to analyse causes such as inequalities, More than ever, a responsible government is discriminatory practices and unfair power indispensable and committed to the basic relations in society. In other words, respect for necessities of the inhabitants, therefore the human rights is the mirror that shows the true design of public policies of sustainable face of a society and the ability of its development and productivity are fundamental representatives to lead the people. including the awareness of each actor social. ISSN 2414-4835 LINDOR, Moïse. Government, poverty and corruption in Haiti. ECORFAN® All rights reserved Critical reflections on two social programs, brain drain and destination countries. Journal of Social Researches. 2019. 15 Article Journal of Social Researches June 2019 Vol.5 No.15 14-34 In this sense, the lack of opportunities In 2015, there were 676.000 Haitian and the migratory flow allow us to understand immigrants in the United States, compared to the desperation and the disagreements to the 587.000 in 2010; Haitians represent less than 2 conditions in which the citizens live that percent of the U.S.-born foreign population perceive an increase of extreme poverty and More than 58.000 Haitian immigrants already insecurity but these factors express Also the in the United States before the 2010 earthquake most severe disapproval of citizens towards have been granted temporary protection status their rulers. Similarly, democratic principles (TPS), which grants work authorization and and human rights continually encourage deportation exemption. everyone not to consider the poor as second- world citizens but as human beings with a right Table 1 shows that the Haitian to a dignified life, and all human beings are immigrant population tripled during the period equal. Unfortunately, we are faced with a 1990-2015. It should be mentioned that in the reality so sensitive and complex where year