HAITI / ECONOMY

Small business, a major economic sector in Haiti was counting on Christmas related activities to help compensate a business year. But post - electoral riots may have quashed that chance when shops were looted and at least four people died. UN economists say growth which was estimated to be down 7 percent before last week's events could be revised to 10 percent for the fiscal year 2010. MINUSTAH

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:01
• Production Date: 14 December 2010
• Asset Language: Original
• Subject Topical: ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
• Geographic Subject: HAITI; UNITED NATIONS STABILIZATION MISSION IN HAITI - MINUSTAH
• MAMS Id: U101214e

Description

STORY: HAITI / ECONOMY
TRT: 2:01
SOURCE: MINUSTAH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: CREOLE / NATS

DATELINE: 10, 13 DECEMBER 2010, PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI

Shotlist

10 DECEMBER 2010, PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI

1.Wide shot demonstrators marching in front of UN base

13 DECEMBER 2010, PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI

2.SOUNDBITE (Creole) Claude Beauboeuf, Economist, United Nations Development Program in Haiti:
“Haitian economics is over stretched, it cannot afford to integrate these kind of problems.”
3.Wide shot, traffic near Petionville market in Port-au-Prince
4.Med shot, stallholder arranging shoes
5.Close up, shoes on a stall
6.SOUNDBITE (Creole) Dorval, stallholder:
“I would often go twice to town to buy supplies, but since this morning I didn’t sell a single pair of shoes. But the leaders, they have their pockets their fridge full.”
7.Med shot, clothes being arranged on a stall
8.Med shot seller talking and arranging clothes on market stall
9.Med shot seller talking and arranging clothes on market stall
10.SOUNDBITE (Creole) Recita, stallholder:
“This year, there is no feast. Those who burnt tyres on the street, they are not helping us. And what we are asking for, nobody is giving us.”
11.SOUNDBITE (Creole) Claude Beauboeuf, Economist, United Nations Development Program in Haiti:
“This has a consequence on growth rate. ECALC (Economic Community of Latin American Countries) yesterday estimated the growth for Haiti down by 7 percent, but after these events, I am sure that we will reach -8 to -10 percent.”
12.Wide shot, exterior, computer shop
13.Med shot, laptops displayed on a shelf
14.Med shot, man working at his desk
15.SOUNDBITE (Creole) Ralph Pereira, CEO, CompHaiti computer shop:
“Regarding business we can decide to either raise the margin and just satisfy the operational needs or rather take an aggressive stance and try to convince people to come and buy.”

10 DECEMBER 2010 PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI

16.Various shots of UN vehicle patrolling amongst blockades in Haiti

Storyline

Demonstrations in Haiti may have crushed any hope for local shopkeepers to bring in extra sales before years end.

SOUNDBITE (Creole) Claude Beauboeuf, Economist for United Nations Development Program in Haiti:
“Haitian economics is overstretched; it cannot afford to integrate these kind of problems.”

Small business is a major economic sector in the country. In Petionville market, stallholders were getting ready for Christmas shoppers.

At this time of the year, Dorval, who is sells shoes would have gone twice a day downtown to renew his supplies. But since the post - electoral riots a few days ago, he is blaming leaders for fuelling demonstrations.

SOUNDBITE (Creole) Dorval, stallholder:
“I would often go twice to town to buy supplies, but since this morning I didn’t sell a single pair of shoes. But the leaders, they have their pockets - their fridge full.”

Another seller, Recita, criticizes demonstrators who ruined her business.

SOUNDBITE (Creole) Recita, stallholder:
“This year, there is no feast. Those who burnt tyres on the street, they are not helping us. And what we are asking for, nobody is giving us.”

UN economists say Haiti’s growth was expected to fall by 7 percent this year. But after the post election events, it could even drop as low as 10 percent.

For Ralph Pereira, CEO at a main computer shop which was looted during the riots, there is no possible long term strategy for business in Haiti.

SOUNDBITE (Creole) Ralph Pereira, CEO CompHaiti computer shop:
“Regarding business we can decide to either raise the margin and just satisfy the operational needs or rather take an aggressive stance and try to convince people to come and buy.”

A week-long violent demonstration where at least four people died followed the primary results of the first round of elections last Tuesday when the opposition accused the ruling president to have forced the way for his sponsored candidate Jude Celestin.