Why Haitians Must Demand Accountability Now
By The Haitian Pulse Editorial Team | June 14, 2025
Port-au-Prince, Haiti — The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) recently announced a $283 million grant to Haiti during the Brazil-Caribbean Summit on June 13, 2025. This funding promises support for crucial sectors such as school meal programs, hospital renovations, basic infrastructure outside the capital, and private-sector projects including fiber-optic network expansions and water sanitation initiatives benefiting over 130,000 households.
At face value, this injection of resources could signal a transformative turning point for a country long battered by crises and poverty. But for many Haitians, this announcement also reopens painful memories of broken promises and stolen funds — a reminder that foreign aid has often become a tool for corruption rather than development.
A History of Lost Dollars and Shattered Trust
The Haitian people’s skepticism is well-founded. One glaring example remains the infamous $1.50 tax introduced in 2011 under President Michel Martelly’s administration. Officially designed as a phone and remittance tax to fund free public education, it instead morphed into a symbol of unfulfilled promises. Despite billions collected, no new schools were built, no classrooms opened, and the tax endures — continuing to burden citizens without delivering any benefits.
“We paid the tax. We never saw the schools. And we’re still paying.”
— Manuela Edouard, Haitian nurse in Miami
This sentiment resonates deeply across the diaspora and within Haiti itself, fueling distrust toward both local government and international donors.
Even more damning is the case of PetroCaribe, a Venezuelan oil subsidy program intended to finance Haiti’s infrastructure through millions in soft loans and grants. Over $2 billion reportedly disappeared, siphoned off through a complex web of corruption spanning multiple administrations. The roads, hospitals, and public works promised under PetroCaribe were never realized. Anti-corruption advocates like Pierre Moïse have gone so far as to call it
“economic murder,”
— Pierre Moïse, anti-corruption advocate
underscoring the devastating human toll of stolen aid.
“Every Haitian family paid for these projects with hope — yet the money vanished into thin air, leaving nothing but broken dreams.”
— Marie-Claude Jean, community organizer
What Makes This Time Different?
The IDB’s latest funding is tied to a broader, multi-national framework known as the ONE Caribbean program, which focuses on climate resilience, food security, disaster risk management, and economic integration. This program is backed by key international partners including the United Nations, the European Union, and the World Bank, and aims to coordinate efforts with Haitian authorities through a Recovery Plan spanning 2025 to 2030.
Officials highlight investments in school feeding programs, hospital upgrades, water sanitation projects in the Grand North, and private-sector development including fiber-optic infrastructure—critical elements for sustainable growth. The IDB is also spearheading a multi-country debt swap initiative designed to reduce fiscal burdens while promoting resilience.
Yet, the very scale of these plans demands unprecedented levels of transparency and citizen oversight. Without independent audits, clear procurement processes, and active participation from Haitian civil society and the diaspora, the risks of mismanagement remain alarmingly high.
“If history has taught us anything, it’s that without vigilant eyes and strong voices, billions disappear while the people suffer.”
— Jean-Baptiste Lafleur, Haitian economist
The Role of The Haitian Pulse: Holding Power Accountable
At The Haitian Pulse, we have made it our mission to be watchdogs during moments like these. We stand ready to track every project and dollar spent, from fiber-optic cables to local clinics. Our commitment is to expose corruption, highlight mismanagement, and amplify the voices of ordinary Haitians demanding justice.
“Nou la pou pèp la, pou defann verite ak jistis.”
— We are here for the people, to defend truth and justice.
What Haitians Must Demand
This $283 million grant is more than just money. It is a chance for Haiti to rewrite its story. But it will only succeed if Haitian citizens demand transparency and accountability every step of the way. This means asking tough questions: What exactly is being built? Who is signing contracts? Where are the audits? How are funds being tracked and reported?
Civil society groups and diaspora organizations must be empowered to participate in oversight. Public financial reports must be made available monthly and be accessible to all.
Most importantly, every Haitian must feel empowered to speak out—whether through social media, community organizing, or writing to their local officials. Collective vigilance is the only defense against repeating the mistakes of the past.
“The future of Haiti depends not on promises but on our insistence that every dollar is accounted for.”
— Sonia Martineau, Haitian rights activist
A Call to Action
We at The Haitian Pulse will not allow this critical moment to pass without scrutiny. We urge our readers to join us by raising questions, sharing insights, and demanding answers.
Will this funding be the catalyst for real change? Or will it fall victim to the same corrupt system that devoured the $1.50 tax and the PetroCaribe billions?
“We owe it to ourselves and the next generation to break the cycle of corruption—starting now.”
— David Jean-Pierre, Haitian youth leader
The future of Haiti depends on us all. Your voice matters. Your questions matter. Together, we can ensure this time, aid serves the people—not the pockets of the few.
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