[Gunner]

It's a downward spiral. Haiti was stripped of nearly all its forests by 1900 or so, leaving it a barren and unappealing place. Agriculture is hampered by a lack of a proper self-contained ecosystem. Overpopulation is rampant. Add in forty years of despotic rule and the problems, already grievous, become so entrenched that they are insoluble by ordinary means. This makes Haiti very unappealing to even adventurous travelers, and the attempts to carve out attractive resort areas have largely failed due to the lack of infrastructure, acceptable employee pools, etc.

Many years ago I had a soc professor break "the third world" into three parts. Third world nations are like Brazil - not on a par with the large industrialized nations, but generally with the props and resources to get there if they try. Fourth world nations are down and out, but have the potential for self recovery with extensive outside help. Fifth world nations... ruined sinkholes with nothing and for which no conceivable amount of support will ever lift them out of the pit. Haiti and Somalia and two of the most notable in this last category.