Show Producer’s Blog: Remembering Haiti

A year ago this week I was in Haiti reporting stories about how things stood on the anniversary of the big earthquake there. As we approach the second anniversary of that terrible day (January 12, 2010) I find myself thinking a lot about the people I met on that trip, including Rochefort Saint-Louis, a public health official tasked with collecting the bodies of cholera victims. You can hear my story about him here.

I remember him telling me the funding for his position was funded by an NGO. One of the big issues in Haiti right now is the tension over the role of international NGOs in the country’s governance and economy. Critics complain they distort the local economy, suck power and money away from the Haitian State and don’t do enough for the people of Haiti.

The BBC’s always-thoughtful Allan Little has a new documentary on the subject.

We’ve also touched on these themes in recent interviews on The World, with Paul Farmer of Partners in Health (considered by many to be among the most effective NGOs in Haiti) and Linda Polman, author of The Crisis Caravan: What’s Wrong with Humanitarian Aid?.

Sometimes the arguments become frustrating and cyclical; it’s clearly not an either or situation. Haiti needs NGOs and it also needs a stronger, healthier government. Still, there’s clearly an urgent and important discussion going on; I for one hope it leads to better outcomes.

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