Public works: How will we maintain the roads?
(First published in the August 27, through September 2, 2001 of the IRSP)
By Hyppolite Pierre
With Haiti's economy in a poor state, the Parliament seems reluctant to agree with a proposal to increase taxes on gasoline, so the State can use the difference for road maintenance. The fear of those politicians is justified, considering Haiti's struggling economy. It is however a necessity for Haiti to deal with the issue of road maintenance, and something will have to give.
Haiti's poor road conditions
More than once have we heard of the pitiful conditions of the roads in Haiti. Anyone who goes there for a visit, or those who reside there, can attest to that fact. It is one thing to build new roads, but quite another to maintain them so motorists can enjoy a ride without much concern for their vehicle. In case the law proposed in Parliament cannot pass through the muster of Parliament, the State may consider a series of alternatives that will bring the same results.
Alternatives to immediate taxation.
Taxing the consumer at the point of purchase (gas pump) may indeed be difficult to do. Considering other alternatives may however not be that hard . The State may decide to for instance increase by a small percentage, the price of a parking ticket, or moving violation by a motorist. Reviewing the regulatory books regarding motor vehicle violations can also help the State achieve the same goal. One could ask for instance, whether it is the rule in Haiti for police officers to issue a ticket to someone involved in an accident. Depending on the gravity of the accident and the reasons for it, the fee could go quite high. It is for instance almost endemic in the culture of automobile driving in Haiti, for many commercial and non-commercial vehicles, to drive with little or sometimes even no break at all. It is not uncommon to hear cab or bus drivers in Port-au-Prince, commenting that "machin lan pa gen fren" (the car has no brakes). Accidents due to the "poor or no brakes" situation are indeed quite common in Haiti, oftentimes causing the death of many. The State could heavily fine motorists involved in those accidents, and that could certainly be a deterrent as well. They could also establish checkpoints where they will stop motorists (especially those going to the provinces), to make sure that those cars do have enough pads in their break. They would while raising Haiti's Motor Vehicle's Department revenue to maintain the roads, help save hundreds of lives. The State could also consider sprucing up the city's face, by penalizing those who run cars (taxis, private motorists or bus drivers), that do not conform with certain basic rules.
It is always unpleasant to see taxis for instance, with pitiful or no seats, driving in the city of Port-au-Prince. Many would argue in this particular case that it is unfair to single them out. It is also quite unfair for them to charge consumers for a ride, in a car that is total discomfort. The State could also consider as one more alternative, or rather addition, charging a yearly or a biennial tax on cars, money that could be used specifically for road maintenance.
It is indeed understandable that Haiti's legislators are concerned with the idea of charging people even one more cent for tax, when they might pay the consequences at the voting booth. That is on the other hand, not a deterrent for the State to try and come up with more creative and appropriate ways, to maintain the quality of the roads. People may complain at first but by the end, if they see that the money is put to good use, they will show more understanding towards the State.
