USAID/OTI Haiti Field Report
February 2005
Program Description
In response to the recent political turmoil in Haiti, OTI initiated the Haiti Transition Initiative (HTI) in May 2004 with implementing partner International Organization for Migration (IOM). The program emphasizes stability-building measures in key crisis spots through the implementation of quick, visible small projects with the following objectives: restore citizen confidence and hope in the process of political development and positive change; empower citizens and the government to address priority needs in communities; and build cooperative frameworks between government activities and citizens as examples of positive change and progressive political development.
Country Situation
Peacekeepers building peace, but struggling to keep it – In early February, MINUSTAH peacekeepers entered the volatile Bel Air slum of Port-au-Prince to remove trash and provide food and medical aid in an effort to help local residents return to their normal activities. Up to this point, Bel Air had been a no-go zone dominated by gangs loyal to former President Aristide.
However, in the same neighborhood on February 28, the observed anniversary of Aristide's departure, police fired on a thusfar peaceful demonstration that was being escorted by UN peacekeepers. At least two demonstrators were killed and a dozen more wounded. A MINUSTAH spokesperson confirmed that at the time of the shooting, the demonstration was completely peaceful although a contradictory statement from the Haitian National Police (HNP) claimed that the demonstration had to be broken up because the organizers had not given the requisite 48 hours notice on the location and route. MINUSTAH chief Valdez declared that such actions on the part of the HNP would no longer be tolerated.
Attacks on the Haitian National Police – The arm of the ex-FAd'H controlled by Remissainthe Ravix was accused of kidnapping six police officers to bargain for the release of a jailed comrade. Five officers were later released while the sixth remains unaccounted for. Haitian police placed Ravix on its wanted list following the slaying of four police officers in a separate attack near the airport at the start of Carnival. Overall, minimal violence was reported during Carnival.
National Penitentiary Jailbreak – Almost 500 inmates escaped from the national penitentiary during an armed attack on Haiti's largest penitentiary. Eight police officers have been detained and dozens more are being investigated for complicity. Former prime minister Yvon Neptune and former interior minister Jocelerme Privert, both of whom are inmates, were rushed to a secret location during the riot. They were later turned over to U.N. troops, who escorted them back to the prison. The assailants had penetrated the facility when visiting family members were delivering food to inmates. The majority of fugitives remain at large.
The electoral process ready to take off – The interim government of Haiti (IGOH) confirmed municipal elections to be held on October 9 and legislative and presidential elections to be held in two rounds on November 13 and December 18. The electoral decree called for a permanent register of voters, a national identity card valid for 10 years for citizens of voting age, and limited private campaign financing to $25,000 dollars.
New Commission on DDR - The IGOH signed a decree naming the members of a National Commission on Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration (CNDDR). Although the expectation was that the decree would include the mandate of the Commission, it is nonetheless a step forward. MINUSTAH is scheduled to open the first of its processing centers later this month where OTI/IOM reintegration program for an initial group of up to 80 former FAd'H members will get underway.
National Dialogue Efforts Advance - The IGOH created a third decree this month establishing the framework for a national dialogue. The initiative is jointly endorsed by the transitional government and the international community and is aimed at brokering a pact among all Haitians that establishes national priorities to be taken up by an elected government.
USAID/OTI Highlights
A. Narrative Summary
OTI continues to promote stability in key crisis spots through quick, visible small projects. An essential element to stability in Haiti is public confidence in security and the government's ability to provide services. OTI has supported improved public lighting in volatile areas as a visible signal of the interim government's commitment to previously neglected areas. OTI is also supporting the efforts of the interim government as the main partner in the Ministerial Commission on Cité Soleil (IMC), an office mandated by the Prime Minister to focus on facilitating positive change in the troubled slum. OTI is working to bring other agencies to the table to support the work of the IMC and implementing partner IOM is finalizing a protocol with the Commission to formalize technical assistance and additional joint activities. The activities of Carnival were the first initiative effectively organized jointly by the IMC and OTI.
OTI also continues to creatively multiply the effects of existing and new programs. Building on the momentum around activities aimed at bringing youth together and providing alternatives to violence, HTI is taking its strategy a step further by integrating sports and culture-related infrastructure and activities into a larger campaign to "wage" peace. These activities are designed in such a way that they highlight USAID/OTI hopes for peace and reconciliation and leverage the anticipated MINUSTAH public awareness campaign associated with the DDR process.
B. Grants Activity Summary
In February, seven new activities worth $168,860 were approved and three were completed. Of the 74 cleared grants, OTI has completed activities on 27 grants totaling $328,134, with 47 additional grants totaling $1,392,867 still ongoing.
| Grants |
Amount ($) |
Grants |
Amount ($) |
| Gonaives |
0 |
0 |
6 |
$ 292,929 |
| Port-au-Prince |
3 |
$69,010 |
27 |
$ 762,836 |
| Petit Goâve |
2 |
$ 59,600 |
22 |
$ 348,056 |
| St. Marc |
2 |
$ 40,250 |
19 |
$ 299,930 |
| Total |
7 |
$168,860 |
74 |
$1,703,751 |
Making communities safer - Electricité d'Haïti (EDH) and the St. Marc municipality will take the lead on identifying sites and coordinating the work of a new HTI electrification activity. The project aims to increase the security of St. Marc residents by providing lighting in previously neglected areas, thereby reducing risk to pedestrians, homes, and circulating vehicles after dark. It will also enhance the central and local governments' capacity as providers of public services to improve general living conditions in the community. Volatile neighborhoods like La Scierie and Portail Montrouis will be prioritized.
Youth, Sports and Culture - Sports and cultural infrastructure projects will be known as "Terrains d'Entente" (Common Grounds - also the word for sports fields in French) and the activities themselves will be called "Jwe pou lape" (Creole for Play for Peace). These themes will carry through all HTI sports & culture activities and will unite these projects throughout the Port-au-Prince area and link with similar grants St. Marc and Petit Goâve.
A new project to extend the Terrains d'Entente in Martissant to include a basketball court follows on the heels of the Sainte Bernadette soccer field project and the "Play for Peace" inaugural tournament, both of which were enthusiastically endorsed by the Secretary of State for Youth, Sport, and Civic Education. Petit Goâve will see two new projects starting involving the rehabilitation of a football field and a basketball court, both Terrains d'Entente that will host "Play for Peace' events upon completion.
The Environment and Flood Prevention - In St. Marc, HTI is supporting a pilot environmental project with the local office of the Ministry of Agriculture. This three-part approach to soil conservation targets areas that experience frequent flooding utilizing a combination of tree-planting, masonry, and the installation of gabions to bolster ravine walls.
Media - HTI has completed the production of five radio shorts describing projects in the St. Marc area. These will air on St. Marc radio stations, including those stations that are part of the USAID-funded RAMAK community radio network.
C. Indicators of Success
In November 2003, flooding originating in the mountains above St. Marc claimed lives and property. Less than four months later, the same mountains were the site of a massacre that left between 25-50 anti-government protesters dead. Today, the mountains that shadow the troubled La Scierie neighborhood are a site of new life and hope.
Mentioned above, this pilot soil conservation project supports the Department of Agriculture office in its efforts to prevent future flood disasters. Originally envisioned to employ 120 people, the project currently boasts a roster of 100 men and 116 women working on the hillside. This impressive activity can be seen from the streets of downtown St Marc and long lines of people pass stones to form the retaining walls. During the first week of activities, 4,000 fruit trees were delivered to the St. Marc School for the Deaf which will serve as a nursery for the trees until the spring rains begin and planting can commence.
Today, on those same mountains on which helicopters fired at residents of La Scierie, people are finding jobs, self-worth, and hope that their work is contributing to the safe future of their neighborhood.
NEXT STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES
In the next month, USAID/OTI Haiti will:
- Complete the HTI strategic planning process begun in February with an HTI team retreat. This activity will result in a document that will serve as a guide for HTI phase 2 activities.
- Jump start reintegration activities with the arrival of the IOM DDR Program Manager and Database Specialist. The activities in March will include coordinating revenue-generating reintegration options and further coordination with MINUSTAH on the nuts and bolts of the reintegration centers.
- OTI will continue to cross-fertilize its efforts with the MINUSTAH DDR program and the HTI program by bringing together former gang members and the communities in which they live through HTI projects. In this way the combatants will be engaged productively with the communities in addressing community needs in exchange for initial efforts to disarm.
For further information, please contact:
Katherine Donohue, OTI Haiti Program Manager, 202-712-0498, kdonohue@usaid.gov
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