Dear Anonymous:

Thank you for your recent post. You touch are some very contentious issues that are part of an ongoing debate into the involvement of the US in the coup against Aristide and the investigation into his public corruption of the police, judiciary, and telecommunications industry.

While we encourage dialogue and acknowledge politics is an inevitable part of development, this is not an appropriate forum to perpetuate libel or political rhetoric. You do, however, mention sweatshops, which very much involved the development of Haiti and I would love to hear more of your experience in the factories of Haiti.

I once lived in Ouanaminthe, where Levis has just opened a factory along the border. Many were concerned, like you, that Haitian labor would be exploited by not offering a fair wage. In fact, many townspeople, in truth or not (I don’t know), believed that Dominican workers in Santiago, DR were making more money in the Levis plant than Haitians were in Haiti.

This sets up a very important line of questions, what is the comparative value of labor on the island of Hispaniola? Is Haitian or Dominican Labor better? Are items produced in Haiti more expensive because of the lack of infrastructure (i.e. roads)? What is the comparative advantage to producing in Haiti opposed to the DR?

I would love to hear your thoughts on this matter, as it is a topic of heated debate. Thanks!