Let's Build Gonave, Haiti!

While it comes to a surprise, this island is a little smaller than Gonave, and played a key role in World War II.  Guam is a US territory, and comprises some 209 sq miles. While the economy of Guam is strongly linked to tourism and the US defense military base.  Now Gonave wouldn't have a US defense base, it can have a strong tourist, agricultural, and light manufacturing economy.  Developing Gonave will be a challenge given the lay of the land is different than Gonave, and also Gonave doesn't have the United States as a major financial backer.  This doesn't mean Gonave can't develop and even trump Guam, or Puerto Rico for that matter.  Gonave has to be smart, and build critical infrastructure slowly, while focusing on easy and cheap economic activities that can yield a high return. Thought? Go Gonave!

As I mentioned a few times education is key.  One way to get Gonave rolling is by having adequate well funded schools for children as well as adults.  While building of schools cost a large sum, this can solved using wooden structures or even using shipping containers.  Adults could benefit from community colleges that will provide language learning courses, math, sciences, and even job training.  This is very important in luring international companies to the island. Children will benefit from well balanced schools that are based on school structures that work in different parts of the world such as Japan, S. Korea, and even England. Creating a Department of Education can ensure the citizens of Gonave will have a leg up on others in the region.  Establishing a good public school system is key to making sure that the proper checks and balances are done.  Schools will be built where they are needed, books are modern and useful, strong education requirements, etc. If Gonave turn

Gonave can start building a strong farm presence as well as build a strong economy by producing high priced goods.  Oyster Mushrooms can fetch a very high price for a small amount of goods.  Lavender can be used in many different types of products, all bringing large profits. Oyster Mushrooms These mushrooms grow very fast, and can be cropped every week.  Just a small 200 sq ft area can produce 100 pounds per week.  Given that these mushrooms can fetch $6 to $15 per pound, oyster mushrooms can be a very viable product for Gonave given Gonave's small land size. Lavender These plants like land that is rugged, and after their first year, they can survive getting little moisture.  From fresh to dried bouquets, to sachets and pet products, lavender can also bring in large amounts of money as well as jobs.  Again a small area of 400 sq ft can make 300 bunches per year.  Given that lavender can fetch $6 per bunch, expect $1,800 per year on that small 400 sq ft space. Gonave nee

This rise of the mini bus.  This is a Poncho ADG-HX6JLAE mini bus, which is made in Japan.  The bus holds about 10 seats, and of course you can stand on it.  Now why a mini bus? Cost To purchase these mini buses cost a fraction of what a large city bus cost.  These vehicles offer an affordable way to move around certain parts of Gonave, and could be a vital link from the proposed Focus City to rural villages.  Operational costs should also be lower with these smaller buses. Size While these mini buses will not form the entire transit system, they will help with the initial transit line and as I mentioned connecting the Focus City to a village.  Given the small size of Gonave, and the small streets that are proposed by Hurko, these size buses make sense. Implementation These buses are practical in terms in implementation.  The hope is to have a rail line constructed that will connect many parts of Gonave.  These mini buses will serve that route, until the line is construc

It's no secrete that Haiti has many different issues including violence.  Gonave is no different.  While the violence on Gonave doesn't compare to the amount and types of violence on the mainland, ending violence and stopping it before it begins is key. Some say education, stable home, and good role models are key to ending violence.  While this is true, it is up to the future leaders on Gonave to first reach out to parents.  Explain the importance of education, therefore parents are less likely to keep kids at home to help pay the bills.  Also leaders should explain how education is a key for success.  It isn't a promise that an educated individual will be perfect, but it helps to give a person a place in life. All of this points to one bigger thing...government.  While government can't raise our kids, having a good government is very important.  A government that cares about the progress of the people that inhabit their country.  A love of people, and pride that

Go Gonave!

So this can be a bit of a touchy subject.  I feel that like in some places, the automobile should be regulated.  Not only in the sense of emissions, but also with size and weight.  Throw in advanced technology like hybrid and all electric as well. Given Gonave's tiny size, there should be a max length, and weight of a car.  Not to mention the cost to own a car, but that is a different topic all together.  I think that cars that fit in the Fiat 500, Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf, etc., should be a staple on Gonave.  Given the small design, these cars take up less space on the road, parking, etc.  Not to mention these cars will not consumer as much fuel as say a Chevy Surburban. In the end, Gonave should establish this early if it became a true SAR.  It would go a long way in the future planning of Gonave's urban landscapes. Go Gonave!

When looking over ideas to Gonave's future, and using natural energy (wind and solar) to power the island, there are other things that Gonave can do in the distant future.  I wrote last year about creating a power company called Gonave Power and Lights.  GPL could adopt some of the same things many American cities have done to conserve power.  Gonave stands at an advantage because it is just now beginning its journey into power consumption. If future development comes to fruition, then many homes will start using power and water unlike ever before on the island.  The extreme expense will limit the amount of infrastructure that can initially be developed.  Looking at Hurko Co. development ideas, one city block would be developed at a time, with each block packing in a couple of hundred people.  Not only does it shave off expensive infrastructure, but it makes ecological sense.  With the development, no large road networks need to be completed, the community will be walk oriented.

With the plans that Hurko Co has released, you see mostly residential space, along with retail under the mixed use development.  There are also plans for a hotel as well to capture potential tourist.  One thing that interested me was that there was no office component.  I assumed that the retail space would serve that purpose.  I assumed wrong. Just today, I was sent the specs on what the building would be and given a general idea of what it will look like, but no picture or sketch was sent.  So based on what I was told, I found a pic that I assume would be very close to the plan (above).  To start, Hurko will put a very small office space in the Focus City area.  The building would be only 3 stories tall, and contain 25,000 sq. ft of office space, over two floors.  The bottom floor will be 12,500 sq ft of retail.  The total building would be some 36,500 square ft.  Sounds like Hurko is focusing on housing and retail to support the future population that will live in the Focus Cit

While I have reported a large amount of what Hurko's plans are, I still want to offer ideas and plans for other areas of Gonave.  I feel that you can make a large amount of movement with a small amount of money.  One way is through farming, and creating your own food. One idea that makes a lot of sense for Gonave is chickens.  Chicken farming covers two areas that would be of interest.  One would be eggs, and the other being meat.  Given the terrain of Gonave, chickens are more suitable, than say a cow. property of seattletimes.com property of en.wikipedia.org property of 1wescott.blogspot.com The above are free range chickens.  As you can see, a large swath of farmland could be used, and fenced off.  Build a shelter, with a ramp for them to go in and out of the elements, and you can easily have a large operation.  Thousands of chickens could be on each farm that would be established on Gonave.  Little land work would be needed for this "free range" op