Submitted by Cat Laine (not verified) on Tue, 02/19/2008 - 09:45.
I drove by the barbed wire fences that keep the nice Americans in and the Haitians out of Labadee Beach the other day.
Yes, 300 people are formally employed which is a good thing, but a pittance considering the amount of wealth transfer that could be happening. From my understanding of the current situation. The money that is given to the Haitian government goes to the capital and none of it filters down to Cap-Haitien where it could improve public services for the residents.
Because the place is in lock-down, no other businesses or restaurants that could serve the gazillion tourists who come by each year can be started. The beach is owned by one family at worst or a group of families at best. And they are making a killing.
Local entrepreneurs can in no way get a foothold. So a few people get to sell trickets to rich Americans? Big frigging deal...
The business brought in by RC could do so much more for the local economy than it is currently doing. You're right. It is not necessarily RC's job to navigate that social justice minefield. However, informed consumers who want their vacation money to go to a socially responsible company can help make it RC's business.
I drove by the barbed wire
I drove by the barbed wire fences that keep the nice Americans in and the Haitians out of Labadee Beach the other day.
Yes, 300 people are formally employed which is a good thing, but a pittance considering the amount of wealth transfer that could be happening. From my understanding of the current situation. The money that is given to the Haitian government goes to the capital and none of it filters down to Cap-Haitien where it could improve public services for the residents.
Because the place is in lock-down, no other businesses or restaurants that could serve the gazillion tourists who come by each year can be started. The beach is owned by one family at worst or a group of families at best. And they are making a killing.
Local entrepreneurs can in no way get a foothold. So a few people get to sell trickets to rich Americans? Big frigging deal...
The business brought in by RC could do so much more for the local economy than it is currently doing. You're right. It is not necessarily RC's job to navigate that social justice minefield. However, informed consumers who want their vacation money to go to a socially responsible company can help make it RC's business.