28 Dec 2010

PM claims Haiti being left out of reconstruction

3:23 pm on 28 December 2010

Prime Minister Jean Max-Bellerive of Haiti says the international community has not allowed his country to play a bigger enough role in its own reconstruction following the earthquake there in January.

More than one million people still live in camps as a result of the magnitude 7.0 quake on 12 January.

Mr Max-Bellerive said his government has too little influence because aid money was channelled through outside agencies.

He told the BBC that only 20% of the aid pledged had been received so far.

Mr Bellerive said donors and the international community were not working with Haitians to find solutions when channelling aid to those who need it, and greater control of non-governmental organisations was needed.

"Let's be clear, I have nothing against NGOs - we need them. What I need is to have control over what they do in my country, where they do it and with whom they are doing it, and at what cost," he said.

Mr Bellerive said he was constantly being asked why there were no visible results from donated money. "It's very difficult for me to give explanation for the use of money that I never receive," he said.