Business Investments: The Dream of a Haitian Entrepreneur
The international development community learned decades ago that when relief organizations bring in donated goods that are distributed for free to people in need, one of the outcomes is often the death of local businesses that provided those goods. Why then are NGOs continuing to employ this model in Haiti, asks author, entrepreneur, investor and professor Daniel Jean-Louis.
Jean-Louis is based in Haiti. His firm, Bridge Capital provides small loans to businesses that otherwise don't qualify for loans from Haiti's conservative banking sector. His 100,000 jobs initiative is working across sectors with NGOs, governments and the private sector to create 100,000 jobs by 2020. He reports having helped to create more than 10,000 jobs so far, though he worries Hurricane Matthew may have destroyed some of those jobs when it destroyed so much else in Haiti.
Bridge Capital is small by almost any standard, with just $1 million in capital. In Haiti, where a $10,000 loan can have more impact, that represents the potential to help 100 companies. Jean-Louis hopes to triple the capital base in the coming year, allowing him to reach a level of profitability. Profits come from the 7 to 8 percent net interest margin on its loans.
Jude V. P. Tranquille, founder of Haiti Entrepreneurship Camp, about whom I've written previously, says, "Bridge Capital brings investment and the 100k jobs builds a network of businesses around the country. People are benefiting from business growth as jobs were being created, transforming lives and providing hope to families. I personally know some businesses they have funded, including Enersa Haiti, a company that provides solar energy."
Jean-Louis is a purpose-driven entrepreneur. "My vision is to curb unemployment. I have worked all of my adult life toward that. We want to solve the problem of unemployment in Haiti. I want to help my fellow Haitian friends and family."
Unemployment is a big problem in Haiti, he explains. "Unemployment has been a problem in Haiti as long as I can remember. A lot of people have something to do, a small micro business, but never a real job that can sustain their costs." He notes that 70 percent of people in Haiti lack a formal job.
Jean-Louis says the government is the root of the problem. "The Government has never provided a good atmosphere where businesses can start and grow. The World Bank has published a study over and over that shows that Haiti is one of the worst places in the world to start a business. It takes thousands of dollars and months of time to register a new corporation."
Illeus Papillon is the Grand Prize Winner of the Creole Award
Illéus Papillon, poet and academic, just left Haiti to study for a master's degree in Canada. While he was in transit in Miami, Dominique Batraville interviewed him regarding the Creole Award he has just received.
Numerous Haitian and foreign poets were considered. They were all contacted and chose either one of their albums or a collection of poems, Papillon explained. “In my case, it was my first album of poetic texts: “Chimen Dekoupe.”
“I am very proud to have received this award, which I dedicate to the thousands of Haitian young people who could be in my shoes, but are unfortunately prevented due to the difficult conditions that we all know well.
Furthermore, a Creole poet who is honored in an international competition, it is the proof that our national language (Haitian Creole), like all other languages, has no boundaries. I owe this honor to all those who, like me, have fought for the full respect of the Haitian Creole language as full cultural expression of a people.”
The Chairman of BNC’s Board of Directors is interrogated by a judge
Invited to provide explanations regarding some confusion created on the account in gourdes or in dollars for Jovenel Moïse at the BNC, the Chairman of the Board of the BNC, Fernand Robert Pardo, appeared on Friday in the judge's chambers of Judge Bredy Fabien, to shed some light on this file.
Accompanied by his two lawyers, one of whom was Maurice Alexandre, Pardo answered the judge’s questions. The Chairman of the Board provided useful explanations to unveil the truth regarding the opened investigation on Jovenel Moïse. This hearing lasted approximately two hours. Having become the 58th president of the Republic of Haiti, Jovenel Moïse, according to the administrative report of the Central Processing Unit of Financial Information (UCREF), is under investigation for "possibly" manipulating funds which have nothing to do with his companies.
Neither the lawyers of the BNC nor the Chairman of the Board of the BNC wanted to answer the questions from journalists. Pardo, explained that the proceedings must be kept secret. There will be complete silence surrounding account # 0340 000 272, which belongs to Jovenel Moïse.
"At this stage, I can add nothing, because the BNC is a professional institution. The judge invited me to throw a little light, we did it. The instruction is secret, it is what I can add for the moment," he declared, before getting into his car. Shortly before Pardo’s appearance, two of Jovenel Moïse’s attorneys, Camille Leblanc and Reynold Georges, went to the judge’s chambers to inquire about the file.
"There are rumors that the judge had invited President Jovenel to the judge's chambers, we wanted to verify these unfounded assertions", explained Reynold Georges. He believes there is a contrived plot against Moises. Someone modified the account, in gourdes, into dollars. "The president-elect said those who responsible for this defamation will be punished," he exclaimed.
Moïse’s attorney asserted that his client has done nothing wrong. "Jovenel Moïse certainly does not want to run away from justice. He is prepared to cooperate with the justice system.
Preparations are underway for the Inauguration of Jovenel Moise on February 7th - Yet the Budget for this Event is Unknown
The invitations were sent, the event schedule has been determined, important documents are being transferred, but the budget for this event remains nevertheless unknown …
The joint committee for the transfer of power of Jocelerme Privert to Jovenel Moïse is ready to get down to work. With about 15 days until the swearing-in of the new president, the principal private secretary of the outgoing president, Jean-Max Bellerive, confided to the Nouveliste that nobody yet knows how much the festivities are going to cost.
However, he assured that they were on schedule with the preparations. All the countries having diplomatic relations with Haiti were already invited to the swearing-in of the elected president. Besides the counterparts of Jovenel Moises, there are other personalities and national and international institutions to be invited.
As of now, France has already confirmed that it would send its Secretary of State of the Cooperation.
If the festivities marking Donald Trump's nomination as 45th president of the United States cost approximately 200 million dollars, in Haiti, we still do not know still how much it will cost for Jovenel Moïse’s inauguration on February 7th. The Tèt Kale transition team has not finalized its budget yet. However, it indicated that there is a budget for the security aspect with the national police force to assure the safety of the foreign dignitaries who will be in the country. There is a budget for protocol with the Minister of Foreign Affairs. There is a budget for the construction of stands near the national palace, and the organization of buffets, among others. There is as well a budget for the reception of delegations, the reception that the new Head of State will have to host. As of last Friday, figures for the total budget were not still available.
Wilson Laleau was questioned by investigating Judge Berge O. Surpris The former Minister of the Economy and Finances was questioned by investigating Judge Berger O. Surpris, on Friday, January 20th, 2017. Wilson Laleau was interrogated regarding an investigation on "administrative waste, embezzlement and waste of the funds of the State", explained Government Commissioner Jean Danton Léger.
"He answered the judge’s questions because he received an invitation [to appear]. I have no other details", indicated ... a close friend of Wilson Laleau, who is now managing President-elect Jovenel Moïse’s transition, on February 7th.
"It is up the Court’s Auditors to say if there was any administrative waste, or diversion of funds. There is no warrant against him," stressed this source.