Submitted by Monika Kalra Varma (not verified) on Wed, 07/23/2008 - 11:45.
The report directly addresses the concerns raised by Anonymous.
The premise of the investigation was the U.S. role in the withholding of IDB loans which the Haitian government had agreed to and invested in. The Haitian government had signed a contract and paid $5 million in arrears to receive these loans to implement specific water projects in several communities, including the city of Port-de-Paix. The U.S. and IDB did not honor their end of the contract, and violated the Bank's own charter in withholding these water loans.
These actions should be investigated so that they are not repeated. In addition, attention should be centered on ensuring that these specific IDB projects are in fact implemented and that they meet the needs of the local community. Throughout the report, there are strong recommendations that all water projects in Haiti follow a rights-based approach, with the goal of strengthening the government's infrastructure rather than disregarding it, as happens with most projects. As discussed in the report, side-stepping the government only serves to weaken the public sector and Haitians’ ability to secure their rights.
The investigative team that contributed to the report lived in Port-de-Paix during the summer of 2007, and the core team was comprised of two Haitian investigators and one American. While in Port-de-Paix they met with the local community every day, and they have since returned to the community to provide updates on the report’s findings. The team will again return to Port-de-Paix in the next month to seek the community's specific recommendations for each of the institutions that are responsible for fulfilling its right to water.
Monika Kalra Varma
Director, Center for Human Rights
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial
Response to Anonymous
The report directly addresses the concerns raised by Anonymous.
The premise of the investigation was the U.S. role in the withholding of IDB loans which the Haitian government had agreed to and invested in. The Haitian government had signed a contract and paid $5 million in arrears to receive these loans to implement specific water projects in several communities, including the city of Port-de-Paix. The U.S. and IDB did not honor their end of the contract, and violated the Bank's own charter in withholding these water loans.
These actions should be investigated so that they are not repeated. In addition, attention should be centered on ensuring that these specific IDB projects are in fact implemented and that they meet the needs of the local community. Throughout the report, there are strong recommendations that all water projects in Haiti follow a rights-based approach, with the goal of strengthening the government's infrastructure rather than disregarding it, as happens with most projects. As discussed in the report, side-stepping the government only serves to weaken the public sector and Haitians’ ability to secure their rights.
The investigative team that contributed to the report lived in Port-de-Paix during the summer of 2007, and the core team was comprised of two Haitian investigators and one American. While in Port-de-Paix they met with the local community every day, and they have since returned to the community to provide updates on the report’s findings. The team will again return to Port-de-Paix in the next month to seek the community's specific recommendations for each of the institutions that are responsible for fulfilling its right to water.
Monika Kalra Varma
Director, Center for Human Rights
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial