Haiti and Chavez

“Another Haiti event?” asked Janera in her outgoing invitation. Yes, indeed it was, but this Haiti’s Reconstruction & Geopolitics Salon was much more than your average fundraiser or lecture. Guests walked up the cascading marble staircase of the David Rockwell-designed Andaz Wall Street to the Wall & Water Lounge, adjacent to the chef‘s cheese stand.

After introductions, the passing of business cards and wine, Janera appeared at the microphone to introduce the speakers and performer. What better way to break the ice than with Haitian poet and muse, Lenelle Moise? My favorite piece was one she called “Desire.” Packed with images meant to define and evoke desire as ‘a clenched fist,’ ‘a pressing hunger’ or ‘urge’— desire precludes power, dynamite. It leads to ‘heavenly bliss’ or ‘neurosis.’ Lenelle spoke with such fervor and clarity that she easily embodied core ideas of a Haitian expatriate or young girl.

This performance segued into a three-way conversation. Francois Pierre-Louis, associate professor of political science at Queens College had a lot of insight, having worked as a community organizer in Haiti, served in the private cabinet of President Artside, and as an advisor to Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis. He is the author of “Haitians in New York City: Transnationalism and Hometown Associations.”

Dr. Robert Maguire, associate professor of International Affairs and Director of the Haiti program at Trinity Washington University, emphasized the need for a “codependent” relationship between NGOs and the government. In many cases organizations bypass governments and serve to expose or magnify their weaknesses; such is the case with Haiti. He relayed a great quote describing Haitian governmental acts as a “cacophony” that is “flag-draped” and “fails to compensate for a national plan.”

It saddened me to hear these distinguished men admit that the Haitian government “just wasn’t there” during the catastrophe. Many government officials (as well as UN staff) were killed in the earthquake. Nikolas Kozloff, an expert on South America and former fellow at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, who wrote “Hugo Chavez: Oil, Politics and the Challenge to the US and Revolution” commented on the effects of U.S intervention in South America. If it plays a major role, it may raise suspicions from the surrounding socialist governments. Tensions existed between the U.S. and Venezuela even before the earthquake. Venzuela, one of Haiti’s biggest creditors, just recently forgave the nation’s debt of approximately $295 million.

Photographer Tiani Markova-Gold’s large-scale images of Haitian bathers caught guest’s attention before and after the dialogue. Markova-Gold is a contributing artist to the Art for Haiti auction, organized by the Nymphoto Collective. The online auction starts on February 27th 2010 and will donate 100% of the proceeds to Partners in Health.

The question and answer period was particularly lively — audience members hailed from organizations such as Partners in Health and the New York-based Haiti Support Project. Their questions and clarifications were as well-informed as the speakers.

Photos by John Benton.