By: Dr. Asad Mohammed, Senior Lecturer/Planner, UWI (St. Augustine)
This paper explores the planning issues in post-Diaster Haiti. It examines the relationship between the planning required at different levels of government to give effect to reconstruction efforts. These needs are compared to the existing initiatives of UNHabitat the agency tasked with planning and settlements coordination by the Interin Reconstruction Commission. The paper suggests that there are real constraints to the speedy implementation of reconstruction efforts and proposes that different thinking is needed to prevent the existing situation being prolonged in to the future. It also suggeats that there is a pressing demand to simultaneously progress with planning and implementation. These activities will, however, be extremely difficult if there is no effort to strengthen the government generally and Municipal government in particular.