Some good content in that link from people who've lived there. It makes sense to me that the problem is fundamental and cultural, and not racial. The thread implies that there's a thick strand of anti-science, anti-outsider bias that prevents even the most basic improvements to...anything. And the effect is so overwhelming that those who come to know better (e.g. the Haitian geeks), just leave.

An incredible tragedy, but there are some good lessons here. In particular, that you should accept value from anywhere, including your enemies. Call it the "von Braun ethos". The brutality of Euro slave holders is appalling, shocking, horrific. But to use this as an excuse to ignore the lessons of Euro science is an extraordinary case of cutting your nose off to spite your face.

So extremely sad.