prostitutes not for economic reasons but due to their surroundings . Resources were therefore directed into devolving the city , to ghettoise prostitution [ 6 ].
To deny that the elites may not have genuinely believed that such projects were beneficial to the poor is unfair . The point remains , however , that the direction urban development projects took would have been far more effective had a dialogue between the planners with the means to enact change and the locals who knew what change was needed been established .
The aftermath of the Haitian earthquake has proved the existence of lasting barriers to urban development . These barriers to communication and collaboration are best demonstrated by the efforts of the American Red Cross ( ARC ). The ARC raised nearly $ 500 million in 2011 to support reconstruction and rehabilitation projects such as LAMIKA [ 7 ]. The Creole acronym for “ A Better Life in My Neighbourhood ”, LAMIKA , with a budget of $ 24 million , aimed to build several hundred new , sturdier , earthquakeproof houses [ 8 ]. In reality , almost four years into the project , the ARC had completed only six houses . Moreover , despite touting that ‘ community members have been the primary drivers of LAMIKA ’, Haitians themselves have felt alienated and ignored by the ARC [ 8 ].
This sentiment is only too clear in a scathing memo sent by Judith St . Fort , a Director at the ARC ’ s Haitian Assistance Programme ( HAP ), to the ARC ’ s senior director of international response . St . Fort criticises the insufficient attempts to develop relationships between the ARC and key Haitian officials , leading to a ‘ Yankee or cowboy ’ mentality whereby Haitians are perceived as squandering the donated money [ 9 ]. As such , leadership positions are viewed as necessarily coming from the American side .
‘ The implication that talented , smart , competent Haitians cannot be found in Haiti has to be dispelled if we are going to give Haitians a chance of rebuilding Haiti .’
- Judith St . Fort , former Director of HAP , in an internal memorandum [ 9 ]
Essentially , this statement intimates that the role of external groups in development is as much to support and facilitate local leaders and communities as it is about providing funding and ideas . Historically , the resources of Latin American elites would have been far better served in generating positive change had they first turned to the local people and learnt what these communities thought would be beneficial . Modern interventions would be well-served by incorporating this lesson .
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