The Haitian Government, and hopefully the people of Haiti, have recieved some good news, even if it is beyond the horizon of caring for the majority who are living under canvas or tin in crowded IDP camps.
On a day when the Transport Union called for a day of stop-work and protest against what it labels "a corrupt government", the International Monetary Fund (IMF) member countries voted to cancel the $268 million debt owed to the IMF and approved a new loan worth $60 million to boost the international reserves. This new three-year loan carries a zero interest rate until the end of 2011 and then, they say, the rate will remain 'low'.
The protests can turn violent and in fact did back in May when students were tear gassed by UN troops to return order. Many residents of Port-au-Prince stocked up on fuel and food in case the worst happened.
I'm glad to say that we have been holed up in our new compound and we have heard and seen no problems and in fact have been told that "nothing happened". The team has spent the day re-organising our world and getting down to some of the administration side of emergency response. After all we need to know what money we have, or don't have, and where it is going.
