US Ambassador Kenneth Merten bids farewell to Haiti

Ambassador Merten’s Remarks

AMCHAM

Hotel Karibe, Port-au-Prince

29 June 2012

Ladies and gentlemen

It is a pleasure to speak before you tonight.

I was going to give this speech in French.  And I want to assure people I CAN speak French.  However, I prefer Creole (Maman lang peyi-a) and there’s not many opportunities left for me to use it.  In fact, recently someone told me there was a rumor that I was Haitian because I speak Creole and I was born in St. Louis.  But while I was born in St. Louis, it is St. Louis, Missouri, not St. Louis du Sud.  To paraphrase an earlier statement: I am American, not Haitian.

I’ve been involved with Haiti since 1987 when the State Department first assigned me there.  That’s 25 years on and off working on Haiti, during which time I have accompanied the Haitian people through one earthquake, a major humanitarian relief mission, three coups d’état, two hurricanes, one embargo, and at least four elections.  I have worked at the Embassy in an entry-level position, in a mid-level Counselor position, and now as Ambassador.  I’ll be honest, the first time they told me in 1987 that I was going to Haiti, I was not particularly happy about it.  But since that first day of arrival, my wife and family have loved Haiti and have chosen to come back, on postings as well as for vacation.  I remember fondly when I used to join the monthly HAMCHAM (as it was known then) board meetings and I’m delighted to see many of the same faces here tonight, still devoted to the work of the American Chamber of Commerce in Haiti.

I arrived as Ambassador in August 2009.  Haiti seemed to be moving forward slowly but positively.  Then the earthquake struck.  The Port-au-Prince we all knew before doesn’t exist anymore.  Like many Haitians, I miss the landmarks: the cathedral, the palais des cinq ministers, Grand’ Rue with its arcades, and many other things.  Like many of you, I miss even more the friends and loved ones we lost.

I am proud of the work that the U.S. military and civilian agencies did to come to Haiti’s rescue.  I’m proud of all the individuals and independent organizations that came forward to help as well; each group played a vital role.  I know that many of you here worked heroically to save your friends and relatives and later to rebuild your businesses.  For that I want you to know you will always have my deepest respect.

I also want to tell you that while the earthquake and its aftermath are fresh memories for many of us, Haiti is not an earthquake.  Haiti is not a natural disaster.  Haiti is a beautiful country.  Haiti is magnificent beaches.  Haiti is incredible artwork and creativity.  Haiti is excellent music: racines and – my favorite – konpas.  Haiti is the broom man selling his wares and the marchande selling her beautiful fruit.  Haiti is diri ak pwa, pikliz, griot and pwason gwo sel.  Haiti is a country with a magnificent and proud history that should look back on its struggle for independence to find courage to overcome the challenges of today.  I know that can happen.

I don’t want to be remembered as the “Ambassador who helped us through the earthquake.”  I want to be the American Ambassador that is remembered as the “Ambassador who worked with us as a partner as the country dekole’d.

The United States is committed to helping the Haitian people and government realize their vision of a more prosperous country.  We are currently focusing the bulk of our developmental assistance toward four priority sectors:  governance and the rule of law, agriculture, infrastructure, and health.  We have accomplished a lot.  Our programs are training Haitian police officers, we have increased agricultural productivity, we have made Haitians healthier, and we have recently signed awards to start large-scale housing construction.  We believe that these projects and programs will help Haiti build a foundation for future development.

The U.S. government is proud of the contributions we are making to the country, but of course, Haiti needs more than developmental assistance.  Real, transformative change in Haiti can only come through private sector investment.

Only investment creates the jobs that Haitians so desperately need and provides the tax revenue that the Haitian state sorely lacks.  When people have jobs they have the dignity that comes from being able to provide for their families and the freedom to make their own choices.  And when the government has more revenue, it can fund better schools, hospitals, and roads, and more and better-equipped police officers to keep Haiti’s streets safe.

There are encouraging developments.  Construction is almost complete in northern Haiti on the Caracol Industrial Park.  Anchored by the $78 million investment from Korean apparel manufacturer Sae-A Co., Ltd., the park has the potential to create more than   In December, international hotel chain Marriott announced that it would operate a new hotel to be built in downtown Port-au-Prince.  Haiti also reported a 21 percent increase in foreign direct investment over 2010.  And there is still a tremendous amount of good will out there more than two years after the earthquake.  We receive inquiries all the time from companies looking for opportunities in Haiti – just because it is Haiti.

At the end of the day, however, sympathy is no business strategy.  For Haiti to seize this historic moment, Haiti needs to undertake difficult reforms that will make it less costly to do business and more attractive to investment.

Haiti must make it easier to start a business.  The country ranks 174 out of 183 countries in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business survey.  It takes upwards of three months to register a business in Haiti, and there are anecdotes of companies waiting three years for a construction permit.  Efforts already underway by CFI to create a “one-stop shop” for businesses are crucial.  To speed the process up, the CFI recommends dropping cumbersome requirements including that documentation be signed by hand and that approval be published in a newspaper.  Adoption of a new commercial code reducing the bureaucratic burden is also a must.  Longer term, passage of legislation permitting an electronic platform for business registration could bring tremendous benefits.

The Haitian government must take the steps necessary to control contraband, especially at the Dominican border.  The state needs the revenues that customs duties provide, but beyond that, businesses that are following the rules need to know that they are not undercut by contraband.

Haiti needs to modernize its anti-money laundering laws.  The Financial Action Task Force, which examines countries’ efforts against money laundering, has said that Haiti is not in compliance with international standards in this area. Haitian legislation is pending, but failure to enact these modernized laws would result in Haiti being declared a “non-cooperative country” in the fight against money laundering, which would have the effect of terminating electronic funds transfers between the United States and Haiti.

When I first spoke before you as U.S. ambassador in 2009, I spoke to you of the importance of respect, partnership, and responsibility in our approach to Haiti.  The embassy team and I have lived by those values in our work, which has served as the solid foundation upon which we are achieving much.  I believe that a structured, transparent dialogue between the private sector and the government, rooted in the values of respect, partnership, and responsibility, would help Haiti take off.  It would help the government establish priorities and help the private sector understand how it can help the government best implement these policies.

It is worthwhile to remind ourselves that good things have happened over the past year and continue to happen: lots of children had a chance to go to school this year for the first time; we have a head of the supreme court; the Caribbean’s biggest industrial park is being constructed in the Grand’ Nord; the Champs de Mars, Place Boyer and Place St Pierre are back in possession of all the people of Port-au-Prince; less than 400,000 people remain in tents; the airport is being rebuilt; constitutional amendments have been signed; and we’re on our way to elections.  There are some who like to emphasize the negative aspects, but this is reality!  Peyi-ap dekole kunyea-la menm.

As I depart Haiti, I know that the work we at the Embassy are doing will be very helpful in building a foundation for a stronger, more prosperous Haiti.  I am proud of the work we are doing here.  But I look forward to a day when Haiti is fully independent from development assistance and we can close our USAID Mission here.  When that day comes we know that our policies and the Haitian Government’s have been a success.

In closing, I want to tell you that coming here as Ambassador has been a dream come true for me.  I remember attending a reception at the Residence in 1988 thinking:  “wouldn’t it be great to come here as Ambassador some day?”  That dream came true and it has been everything I expected and more.  I have been lucky enough to work with all of you here these past 25 years I will miss you.  Good luck as you dekolé!

Thank you very much.