In an effort to promote business development in Haiti, president Michel Martelly announced this week the formation of f a Presidential Advisory Council for Economic Development and Investment. This is a good move on the part of the president. I I were the president, I would create instead an entire cabinet to deal with Economic development and investment in the country. The most important thing Haitians need at this time is an opportunity to earn a living. The current practice of handing out food or create activities that will make them more dependent are not what they want.

The president argued that he wants to create 500,000 jobs in the next three and the Advisory Council for Economic Development and Investment will have for duties to help in removing barriers on investing in Haiti and to promote growth in business.

It is interesting to see who will be part of this new Presidential Advisory Council for Economic Development and Investment. The Concil will have two co-Directors, former US president Bill Clinton and the president of the South Africa-based telecommunications company Global Voice Group, Laurent Lamothe. In addition, former Spanish prime minister José María Aznar, former Jamaican prime minister Percival Patterson and former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe Vélez.

I have got to give credit to the president for bringing a wide list of celebrity into the picture. My question is that how will we evaluate the progress or lack of progress with The Presidential Advisory Council for Economic Development and Investment?

Nothing is free in this world my friend. How much will this cost the Haitian population and how do we repay?