That's really the big question, isn't it?
I think so. I think we can get there, but the authorities in Haiti, the ones holding the power, need to be able to take the steps that can lead us out of the situation we are in. To be honest with you, though, I don't think we can get there on our own. Haiti needs help from its international friends.
I don't want to put my foot in my mouth, but I consider Canada to be a friend of Haiti's. The way you approach your dealings with us is very different from how another of Haiti's friends, the United States, interacts with us. It's very different, and I can assure you that, if the United States took the same approach as Canada and France, we would have made progress and solved some of our problems; we could have the workings of a normal state. We love our land, we love our country, but we aren't able to get everything we need to function normally. That's a fact.
What I can say, and this has been increasingly shown…. It is true that the Americans send us money here and there, but it's not the same as what Canada does. Canada's ambassador to the UN, Bob Rae, just went to Haiti, on October 21, I believe. I followed his visit, and I can tell you it was completely different from how the Americans do it. While they may be able to provide a lot more financial support, the experience is totally different.
We will definitely benefit from the additional support Mr. Rae announced, even though it's not a huge amount. It's a $60‑million contribution, on top of what had already been provided. I can assure you that the money will help us do good things.
We would like to see our international friends, the United States, France and Canada, working together. I'm not trying to flatter Canada, but the situation with Canada is a bit different. If those in charge of leading Haiti follow the rules and laws they should, I have no doubt that we can return to our former glory as the jewel of the West Indies. I am confident of that.