An article in the July 20 edition of the La Presse newspaper (Montreal) reports on a visit to France by Canada’s outgoing Governor General, Michaëlle Jean. Jean addressed the annual convention of the French Cultural Overseas Network [Réseau culturel français à l'étranger], where she spoke to some 2000 delegates.
Jean told the delegates that Haiti is not recovering from the earthquake. She said that there must be a break in the current pattern of aid to Haiti, towards a new pattern that involves the Haitian people directly:
“The time has come to break with the logic of aid that has transformed Haiti into a laboratory,” said the Governor General, adding that solidarity must be expressed in total cooperation with the government of Haiti. “A new spirit of sharing responsibility is needed,” she said, underlining, “Haitiwill not get back on its feet without the full participation of the women, men and children of the country” [«Le temps est venu de rompre avec la logique d'assistance qui a transformé Haïti en laboratoire», a-t-elle ajouté, en soulignant que la solidarité devait s'exprimer en totale coopération avec le gouvernement haïtien. «Il faut une nouvelle éthique du partage», a-t-elle dit, en faisant valoir que «Haïti ne se relèvera pas sans la participation pleine et entière des femmes, des hommes et des enfants de ce pays».]
The ambassador of France to Haiti, Didier Le Bret, addressing the same convention, concurred that "matters are not improving" in Haiti. He says the widespread use of English as the language of "aid" in Haiti is squeezing out the local population, and he is concerned about how long the shelter material in the temporary camps can last. (Most aid groups see this shelter material as wholly inadequate to the coming hurricane season)
When will Canadians hear such frank words from their Governor General? Jean's remarks in France have gone unreported in Canada’s English language media.
Read the La Presse story in French here. See a similar story on Radio Canada, "Haïti ne se relève pas".