Relief organizations are shipping thousands of pounds of goods to earthquake-ravaged Haiti.
Arts groups are organizing events to raise cash to aid people left homeless when a magnitude-7.0 tremor ripped through Port-au-Prince last week.
But Figaro Joseph, who immigrated from Haiti to the U.S. when he was 16, is focused on the future.
“In the immediate situation, any little bit of contribution to a well-established group will go a long way to help the Haitians,” said Joseph, whose father arrived to work in the citrus fields of Florida in 1980 in the first wave of Haitian boat people. “But over the long term, the country needs some serious development.”
Now 35, Joseph is studying for his Ph.D. in international relations at the University of Denver and speaking up on development needs in Haiti.
One of his concerns is the creation of a justice system that works.
“The ordinary person in Haiti does not believe that he or she will get justice, so if they feel aggrieved, they are very likely to take it to the streets,” Joseph said.
The “huge” level of distrust between citizens and the government, he said, could be lessened by “a mix of lawyers and judges from the United States to set the framework for Haitians” over the next decade and train them.
“People will begin to get a sense that, ‘Yes, we can get some justice.’ That will go a long way to begin to have some sense of normalcy and create a platform for development.”
He also believes it is important to move away from the idea that nongovernmental organizations can develop countries.
“They’re helpful,” he said, “but it’s government that develops countries — and the idea that we won’t work with the Haitian government because it is corrupt, I think is misguided.
“I think we should work with the Haitian government, hold them to account, and help to create transparency,” he said.
David Hintch, too, is thinking about how Haiti might be rebuilt. Now director of the Grand Junction Red Cross office, Hintch helped set up the American Red Cross office in Haiti in 2002, doing everything from working with local government officials to setting up phones.
“For me, there is a silver lining in this great tragedy,” he said. “This is an opportunity to rebuild in a more positive manner and an opportunity for us to continue to build capacity.”
This includes things like stockpiling more supplies in Haiti, creating more disaster-prevention education, and being more active in the community and with the local government.
“The American people are generous,” he said, “but it’s great if the Haitian people have taken those steps of having people trained on the ground with supplies in place, trained to hold the fort.”
To help build a better government response to such natural disasters, he envisions something like “a coordinating body that includes the Red Cross, and local villages, building a civil society in the country. Before, the civil society was weak, but now people might be more motivated.”
The next six months, before the heavy rains and hurricane season start, will be critical for rehousing people, he said.
Environmental degradation in Haiti is very bad, particularly deforestation, he said. Heavy rains could cause landslides on hills compromised by the earthquake, which could throw even more people into homelessness.
With reports that food and water are slow to make it into the country, Hintch said the Red Cross is receiving many calls from people who want to go to Haiti right now and help. He discourages them.
“It’s important there are professionals on the ground who are trained in disaster response,” he said.
“In a few months, lots of church groups will be going down. Wait and hook up with them. There will be a lot of reconstruction needs, and donor fatigue will be coming up. People will forget or not want to watch anymore. Rebuilding will take a long time.”
Colleen O’Connor: 303-954-1083 or coconnor@denverpost.com
Upcoming events
“Haiti: Understanding and Reaching Out,” a discussion including Figaro Joseph and the Rev. Ed Morgan, co-founder of the Colorado Haiti Project at the University of Denver.
Today, 6:30-8 p.m., Driscoll Gallery at DU, 2055 E. Evans Ave., Denver.
A memorial and vigil to honor those who have died and to pray for those who have survived.
Today, after 8 p.m., Driscoll Gallery at DU, 2055 E. Evans Ave., Denver. Information: Chaplain Gary Brower: 303-871-4488 or gary.brower@du.edu.
“I Am Haiti.” Artist and activist Ashara Ekundayo will host a fundraiser to benefit Lambi Haiti and musician Wyclef Jean’s Haiti aid effort.
Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; $10 cover charge, 21 and over only; Flobots Community Space,2705 Larimer St., Denver. Information: .
