The Heat discusses Haiti political crisis, 5 years after the earthquake

The Heat

It’s been five years since a massive earthquake destroyed Haiti’s capital, Port-Au-Prince, and a political crisis now threatens to halt the island’s recovery. Haiti’s parliament was dissolved this week after the failure of last-minute negotiations between President Michel Martelly and legislators to reach agreement on a schedule for elections. Martelly now effectively rules by decree until his term runs out next year.

The President and First Lady joined earthquake survivors gathered in Port-Au-Prince Monday for a mass memorial to remember the dead. The 2010 earthquake killed more than 200,000 people and left more than a million homeless. CCTV’s correspondent John Gilmore reported this story from Washington, D.C.

The Heat’s Anand Naidoo interviewed a panel of experts about the complexities of Haiti’s political crisis:

  • Jean Pierre-Louis, the founder and executive director of CapraCare, a non-profit dedicated to improving health care in Haiti.
  • Robert Maguire, a professor at the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University.
  • Eduardo Gamarra, a political science professor at Florida International University.

The United Nations said Haiti has received more than 80 percent of about $12 billion pledged by more than 50 countries and multilateral agencies since the disaster. This week, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon remembered the 102 U.N. employees who died in the earthquake and called on the international community for continued support. The Heat’s panel continues to discusses the role of the international community in efforts to help Haiti rebuild.

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