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Taiwan gives a helping hand to people of Haiti

No one knows about working in a land plagued by poverty and tropical diseases better than the nine Taiwanese providing agricultural technology assistance to the Carribean country of Haiti, one of Taiwan's diplomatic allies.

Hsu Ming-tang (徐銘堂), 48, ran a factory that manufactured wood and bamboo furniture for over 20 years before he joined the group of intrepid agricultural assistance workers in 1989, when traditional industries in Taiwan went into decline.

His first assignment was in Costa Rica, where he had to teach people to make furniture and build houses out of bamboo. He was then sent to Paraguay and Haiti.

Like all other members of the group, Hsu was contracted by the International Corporation and Development Fund, established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to offer agricultural assistance to Taiwan's diplomatic allies.

Living in rural Marmelad, 300km north of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, Hsu drove about five hours over rough roads to welcome Premier Yu Shyi-kun, who is on an 11-day state visit to four of Taiwan's diplomatic allies. Haiti is the first leg, to be followed by Panama, Costa Rica and Belize.

Classified as one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has a scant 17 percent of its roads paved and 56 percent of its roads are classified as "unimproved."

In addition, 80 percent of its population lives in abject poverty and nearly 70 percent of all Haitians depend on the agricultural sector, which consists mainly of small-scale subsistence farming.

Soil erosion and extensive deforestation are two of the country's major environmental problems.

"Deforestation is a very serious problem here, because people clear the forested land for agriculture and use as fuel," Hsu said.

The lack of electricity and potable water is another problem.

"Can you imagine living in an area where there's no fresh water or electricity?" he said. "One of the must-buy items on my monthly shopping list is 50 25-liter barrels of electrolyzed water."

Although Hsu's approximately NT$100,000 monthly salary seems like a handsome amount, it does not come easy.

"I dare say, not many people would want to work here," he said.

What keeps him going, Hsu said, is his desire to give back to the international community.

"When Taiwan was as poor as Haiti some 20 or 30 years ago, other better-off countries in the world offered a helping hand," he said. "I think it's the right thing to do to give back to what the world has done for us as we've become better off ourselves."

If there is any complaint at all, Hsu said he would like to see the government take better care of their welfare benefits.

"We all feel extremely frustrated and insecure because we have to renew our contract every three years and we're not included in the retirement fund program," he said. "If our country has the money and talent to help other countries in the world, why not take care of our own people first?"

Wu Shih-lang (吳市郎) drove two and a half hours with his wife, Lo Li-ching (羅麗卿), from Bont-Sonde, 120km west of Port-au-Prince, to welcome the premier.

Lo came from South Africa two months ago to visit her husband, who has been teaching rice farming to Haitians for more than a year.

"I don't think I'll be able to be with my husband here any longer, because I don't want to catch malaria again," she said with tears welling up in her eyes.

Lo was infected with malaria last Friday. She has to drive 12km on gravel roads to see the nearest doctor.

"You cannot afford to get sick here. Once you're sick, you're doomed," she said.

Wu came to Haiti about a year ago. He has been on the agricultural team for more than two decades.
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