Cowboys and Haitians

Everyone and I do mean everyone, has a plan for Haiti. Too few organizations are concerned with collaboration instead seem more interested in increasing their brand and placing their logos prominently in tent cities, make shift hospitals or schools. It has me seriously questioning what the motives are here. If the UN can't serve as a coordinating body for the more than 10,000 NGOs in Haiti that what are they good for? Its been widely reported that the Haiti earthquake presented the greatest challenge to the international community; I do not doubt that. The environmental, social and political fabric of Haitian society was already outstretched and weak. With little capacity to begin with, Haiti needs the international community but it is time to have a REAL discussion about egos, motives and agendas. I don't want to be a cynic, I really don't but I wonder if any of the organizations that have been in Haiti for decades or those that recently started to prop up and set up shop hope to work themselves out of a job. Or is Haiti doomed to be a leaderless country dependent on foreign aid and intervention?
As you can see, I have many questions. I honestly didn't think deeply about humanitarian interventions before the quake. But naturally I am concerned with Haiti because I am her granddaughter. I don't know what is best for Haiti; I am not a development expert; nor do I have a Master's degree but my gut tells me that not everyone is in Haiti for the right reasons. And that is a troubling feeling. Some individuals and groups have their own agenda and see Haiti as an opportunity to get rich or advance their careers. And frankly that pisses me off.
Due to a confluence of environmental, social and political factors Haiti has remained mired in a delicate and precarious situation. The absence of an effective and trustworthy government has created the space for powerful international organizations and religious groups to organize themselves the way they see fit; build a school here, hospital there and return home to their donors highlighting all of the great work they are accomplishing. In practice this has meant a disjointed and incoherent national development strategy because everyone is doing their own thing.
This has to change. Its time to build the capacity of local actors (ordinary Haitians, civil society, business elites and the Haitian government). The international community can and should be a partner but no longer the driver.