Haitian PM courts diaspora for investment, pledges voting rights and new bank

BROOKLYN—While speaking to about 200 Haitians and allies in East Flatbush last week, Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille drew the most attention when he made a direct appeal for the diaspora to invest, pledged to ensure they can vote in Haiti’s 2025 elections, and even shared that he is looking to create a bank that would match their investment dollars. 

“The diaspora must be involved at every level—from direct investment to participating in the political process,” said Conille, who stopped at the Evangelical Crusade Christian Church while in town for the 89th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). 

Several Haitian American and U.S. elected officials were present, including New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Councilwoman Charnette Frederic of Irvington and Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages.

“The Haitian diaspora will have an amazing role to play at different levels of Haiti’s affairs,” Conille added. “This is your time to be part of the solution.”

While eliciting applause in the room, Conille’s pledge and promise touched on a frustrating aspect of life for many Haitian Americans. Among those who hunger to invest in Haiti – whether for altruistic reasons or for hefty returns –  hearing such promises dredges up frustration and fatigue. Yes, they want to help their country get better, they say, but the country severely lacks the actual infrastructure and political environment to facilitate their investments.

“It’s not enough to just come and tell the diaspora that we want you to do this, to do that, you need to have what is called a diaspora engagement strategy,” said Firmin Backer, co-founder of Haiti Renewal Alliance, a non-profit promoting business development and investment in Haiti.

“A document, a plan as far as like how you are going to engage and how to get the most and the best out of the diaspora,” Backer told The Haitian Times.

Navigating an underestimated crisis

Conille said his government is working to match the diaspora with investment opportunities. He did not specify the amount of investment dollars needed to launch their efforts in Haiti’s recovery nor when the investment opportunities would come. He was not able to provide many specifics as Port-au-Prince’s downtown area remains in the grip of armed gangs.

Saying that the level of effort required to bring stability to Haiti has been underestimated, the prime minister highlighted the immense challenges facing Haiti, including:

• The displacement of 600,000 people
• Loss of 75% of the country’s infrastructure
• Collapse of the housing system
• A workforce reduced by 35 to 40%
• More than 70% of healthcare facilities in Port-au-Prince are non-operational
• Nearly $2 billion in lost investment

As a result, downtown Port-au-Prince now “resembles a ghost town,” he said, underscoring the urgent need for interventions and support to revitalize the economy and restore stability.

 The diaspora must be involved at every level—from direct investment to participating in the political process.”

Garry Conille, Prime Minister of Haiti 

Jacqueline Anne Braveboy-Wagner (Ph.D), a foreign policy specialist and a political science professor at CUNY’s graduate school, emphasized the importance of focusing on the current crisis when tackling economic development, she told The Haitian Times through email, “A big problem is that Haiti’s economic woes cannot be resolved unless the political system is stable enough to encourage responsible regulated (not just any and all) foreign investment as well as normal loans (not grants).”

“Fixing politics is the horse; economic growth is the cart,” Braveboy-Wagner said.

In addressing economic development in Haiti, Conille also called on Haitian Americans to pressure Congress to pass the HOPE Act, which adds trade preferences for U.S. imports of textile and apparel, before the November U.S. elections, as one way for the international community to deliver on their commitments to Haiti. 

“I don’t think that anyone would argue that the HOPE Act remains important to the Haitian economy,” Braveboy-Wagner said.

Although Braveboy-Wagner, who is also the author of Diplomatic Strategies of Rising Nations in the Global South, emphasized the political and economic importance of diaspora organizing in Haiti’s history, she cautioned against relying on the international community for support.

“Political stability depends on reforms enacted by Haitians in Haiti, not those abroad. Haiti continues to rely too much on extraordinary external help,” Braveboy-Wagner said.

“The latest round of violence that led to the Kenya peacekeeping mission attests to that (most of the Western countries were not willing to do the main peacekeeping themselves).”

Conille promises voting, banking and clean spaces for diaspora

Conille acknowledged the diaspora’s apprehension about violence and insecurity and reassured attendees that his government is putting strategies in place to stabilize Haiti. He emphasized that organizing elections, a critical part of the transitional government’s mandate, remains a priority.

“We will hold elections in November 2025, as promised,” Conille said. “Regardless of the security questions, my government is committed to respecting the electoral timeline.”

He also underscored that the elections would allow the diaspora to establish itself as a political force in Haiti’s future. His administration is working to establish a process for voter registration for Haitian Americans, ensuring they can engage in shaping Haiti’s future.

“We want to guarantee the diaspora’s participation in this process. Your vote matters and your voice must be heard,” Conille said.

Loud applause erupted in the church’s basement at that moment. Dual nationality for Haitians living abroad was legalized in Haiti in May 2011, allowing them to own property, vote and run for public office, but has not been fully implemented.

The transitional government is working to match members of the diaspora with qualified banks that have access to capital, to better utilize the assets, he continued. He did not immediately share further details.

Conille further highlighted some groundwork underway, including working with police to clear the capital’s downtown area and reopening it for new businesses.

“We want Haiti to follow the Jamaica model,” Conille said, referring to the neighboring country’s transformation from two decades of diaspora investment. 

“Jamaica has indeed been successful in harnessing diaspora investment, but investment, as opposed to migrant remittances, is dependent on domestic stability, good governance and the presence of orderly bureaucratic procedures that smooth the way for investment,” Braveboywagner remarked after hearing Conille’s comments.

Haitians, investors weigh in

Conille ended the meeting on an optimistic note. But the lack of details and next steps has become a fixture of many meetings about investing in Haiti—one each in Florida, New York, and Washington, D.C. Earlier this year, at least three different groups organized investment forums to prepare for a return to Haiti if next year’s elections take place and work out.

At the Haitian Diaspora Convention Association’s symposium in August, Herzen Clergè, founder of an investment group that works in Haiti’s south, Gaskov Clergé Foundation (GCF), captured the same sentiment after many such meetings. 

“Up until now we have yet to have an adviser dedicated to the diaspora in his [Conille’s] cabinet” said Backer when venting his frustration with the lack of infrastructure in Conille’s Diaspora policy so far.

“This does not require like a bold big new thing because you’re gonna be there for 18 months, if there is two or three things that you can implement for the diaspora, articulate them and work on them.”

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Haitian PM courts diaspora for investment, pledges voting rights and new bank was first posted on September 30, 2024 at 10:10 am.