Haiti’s 'Recovery': Luxury Hotels Next to Tent Cities

In January 2010 Haiti suffered from a magnitude 7.0 earthquake. In the months following the disaster the predominantly black Caribbean nation received millions of dollars in aid. Yet most of this revenue came with strings attached and often made its way back into the hands of the countries and corporations that donated it.

Much of this investment is being used to build luxury hotels and industrial parks, under the premise that it would create jobs and employ the Haitians. Today much of Haiti remains unchanged. Almost three years since the earthquake, less than 2,000 Haitians have actually been employed. Some foreign companies are only investing in structures that will accommodate foreign interests. There is also the rising exploitation of Haiti’s natural resources.