Let's Build Gonave, Haiti!

Once of the main things that I am asked and challenged on is, if the people of La Gonave decide to govern themselves, how will this new government survive? First there are several things that I think should be in place before taking such action as creating a Special Administrative Region.  Not in any order, security, food, basic infrastructure, training, universal identification, chosen currency. Now there are many more things that go into it, but I will start off with these basic things briefly, and then get on to the top of financing the SAR. As mentioned in the previous post, security has to be created.  This is something that the local people on La Gonave support, and that leaders on the island organize.  Food is something that is needed over everything else.  Having the ability to supply some food, lowers the cost of food, keeps more money on the island, and helps prevent famine and food crisis.  Basic infrastructure is something that has to be done....

I was working with an attorney a few months back about developing a Basic Law document for Gonave.  In short a Basic Law would be very similar to a nation's constitution, except Gonave wouldn't be it's own nation.  As a result of being just an autonomous region, Gonave would have Basic Law, which is very similar to Hong Kong, and Macau which have a similar structure. I had even considered putting part of the Gonave Basic Law proposal online, but decided against it.  The document wasn't complete, and also for many other reasons.  I will talk some about the Basic Law idea, and how it will be important moving forward.  The persons who could run for office for example would have to meet the requirements of getting a Gonave ID with full right of/to abode. The Basic Law for Gonave would a legal document that establishes Gonave as a Special Administrative Region (or Zone).  The region would be within the Republic of Haiti, and while it is an autonomous, Haiti...

Imagine La Gonave is leased to a newly created not-for-profit that would serve as the island's government.  Imagine the Treaty of Gonave, where a lease is established with the not-for-profit and Haiti.  The island would not only self govern, but Haiti wouldn't have any financial responsibility.  The only responsibilities Haiti would have would be military protection, and international representation. While it sounds far from reality, it is a strong possibility.  Haiti can't really afford to take care of the island of La Gonave effectively.  A treaty that establishes Haiti owning the island, but allows a large amount of autonomy could be a way to solve La Gonave's problems. Financial policy, immigration, job creation, housing, politics, etc would all be at the hand of that not-for-profit.  That not-for-profit by the way, would be staffed and ran by residents on the island of Gonave.  Parts of the government structure could contain some people from ...

As you know, if you read my blogs, that I have had two surveys out.  One asking if Gonave should be it's own country.  The other asking if Gonave should be a Special Administrative Region similar to Hong Kong, but still a part of Haiti. Well so far, my unofficial results are, 57% feel that Gonave should not be it's own country.  Given what is going on S. Sudan, it makes sense.  A whopping 80% feel that it should be a Special Administrative Region similar to Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. In the end, it should be up to the people who reside on the island of Gonave, and that cooperation with the Haitian government is important.  We at Let's Build Haiti will make sure that we focus on the needs of the people of Gonave. Go Gonave!

A few people have written to me asking what is a SAR, or Special Administrative Region, and how will it work on Gonave. Well this is a very interesting concept, as only two places in the world that I'm aware of, practice this form of government.  One being Macau, and the other being Hong Kong.  I use Hong Kong in this and other examples because I'm more familiar with Hong Kong and have even visited there. With Hong Kong, they have their own form of government which controls everything from monetary policy, to judicial laws, immigration, education, housing, etc.  The only thing Hong Kong or Macau doesn't control are foreign policy or have a military.  Since both areas had their "hand over" China is responsible for foreign policy and military.  Hong Kong has it's own currency, passports, immigration laws, flag, but shares the same anthem, and has Basic Law, which is its version of a Constitution. Now how will all of this work on Gonave?  Well due to ma...

Why not one country two systems? On my site I talk Gonave having its own independence, and being a separate country.   While this could be a great thing, it could also be a major league problem.   Many things have to be done to actually have your own country, and you need a large amount of money as well.   While some countries have been newly established, such as South Sudan, the road to success has been very bumpy. Not only do you have to have your own military, but you have to have your own constitution, judicial system for laws, political parties, etc.   The costs and complexity are enormous, and you have to make sure that you don’t have other countries who are much more powerful, take you out. With that said, why not adopt a policy that China setup many years ago, that is still practiced today.   The have a One Country, Two Systems.   Here is how it breaks down, the one country being China, and the Two Systems being Capitalism, and Soc...