As many people might be upset with my point of view, I will share it anyway. Having spent the last 9 years in Haiti ( and I am still here), I don't feel Haiti is quite yet ready for Peace Corps to return. As having been the security officer for peace corps haiti for a year I know a lot of consideration has to be given before they can re-open a program. And given the current and continued instability in Haiti, it would be wise to wait. There are still many security concerns - kidnappings are still high, as well as other crimes and foreigners have been targeted more and more. Unfortunately, this is not limited to Paup - although this is where the majority of the violence does occur. Because the country is centralized avoiding Port au Prince is next to impossible - this is where the international airport is, where the better medical facilities are, the main offices of all of the int'l orgs, etc.

I think Peace Corps was forced to make the decision to pull out of Haiti - they can't keep the staff on without any volunteers for more than a certain amount time before they must make a decision - either to withdraw or start up again. Unfortunately, Peace Corps has to take in all of the factors incl their own liability as well as cost (evacuation time and time agin and paying staff in an empty office gets expensive) and Haiti for the moment, in my opinion, in not yet stable enough to safely invite Volunteers back.

They tried this last year (2005) only to evacuate them a few weeks later.

I hope that Peace Corps one day will be able to return, but now is not the time. Haiti needs some time to regroup and stabilize a little more before that can happen.

This is only my opinion and I hope everyone understands that I am an ardent supporter of Haiti and Peace Corps and would love to see its successful (and I stress successful) return to Haiti.

Kenbe fem,

Laurie
Group 2