Getting the development concept right

Jan 24, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor
Even as I continue to ponder the sadness about the disaster in Haiti, I cannot help but wonder how will the developed world’s commitment to help Haiti become “stronger and functional” be different from the past.
I applaud my friend Audreyanna Thomas views (Kaieteur News letter, January 21, 2009) about Haiti and the human development perspective, and though I agree with many of her views, I believe that development must be advantageous for developing countries.
We in the development community have consistently dictated the development paths of developing countries based on subjective recognition of the underdevelopment of these countries. To begin with, develop countries and donors often pursue development with strategic reasons in mind and with foreign policy agendas rather than providing strategic advantages for developing countries such as trade barrier removal and policy development that could allow developing countries to access global opportunities.
For example, the UK develops and support security sector programmes in developing countries to ensure that insecurity issues in developing countries are not played out in UK streets, while the United States provides narcotics training to policy forces to prevent the transport of narcotics to US shores. You will note from the two examples that none of those actions are focused on the developing state.
The donor system has been part of the problem. Each donor would come in with its own strategy for development, its own system, and its own view on what the local government policy should be from economic growth to social policies.
The British, the Americans, the Europeans all have different views, based on their different cultures and historical experiences. Each donor introduces its own separate approach in the recipient country, and the net result is confusion and waste of resources. Most donor projects cannot be sustained after the donors migrate to other priorities. Many recipient countries wind up hopping from one donor to the next or from one development policy to the next, becoming cemeteries for failed projects and remaining in a state of under development.
History shows that sound domestic policies not foreign aid are what generate development. This is how develop countries escaped poverty.
Foreign Aid is not the solution to development for developing countries. It does not generate economic growth nor does it contribute to human development.
To make a difference in the reduction of global poverty, developed countries should allow poorer nations to participate more fully in the International Marketplace.
Currently, one third of the exports from developing nations are subjected to trade barriers by wealthier nations.
The elimination of these commercial barriers could well provide the economic stimulus necessary for poorer countries to reduce poverty. This is a much more practical solution than Foreign aid.
Kevin Bonnett

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