Since President Jean-Pierre Boyer‘s Rural Code (1818-1843), Haiti has been basically the tale of two countries: one urban and one rural. While being urban is advantageous in every way -with school facilities, opportunities to succeed, a sense of being more Western than the back country-, those most ambitious have always been more than willing to simply move to larger urban areas like Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitian.
A picture of L'Estere, Haiti
Nowadays, after the January 12, 2010 natural catastrophe, there seems to be at least an opened intention to change that course. After all, a city like Port-au-Prince, built to accommodate no more than 500,000 people, had a population of over 2,000,000 with most of the living residing in shantytowns.
At economic conferences where Haiti government officials participate, the discussion is mostly about how to better integrate the rural population nowadays. The Miami Herald reported in its Saturday edition, the basics of a certain plan that is being discussed or at least circulated by Haitian officials. The specifics of that plan are interested to read. The question is, will those drafting such a plan adhere to its language and intention if or when they do receive the funds to begin its implementation?
