Haiti: Democracy And Good Governance

“The biggest problem Haiti has is the weakness of its public institutions.”- Jovenel Moise. To declare that Haiti has had problems is an understatement. Haiti’s recent history has been tragic. Natural disasters, poverty, kidnappings, social and political instability have plagued this French speaking Caribbean country. Haiti occupies the western third of the island of Hispaniola, with the Dominican Republic in the eastern two-thirds. The major cities are: Cap-Haïtien, Jérémie, Les Cayes, Hinche, Gonaïves, Jacmel and the capital city Port-au-Prince. There are two official languages: Haitian Creole and French. It is documented that when Columbus landed on the island of Hispaniola on December 6, 1492, he found a kingdom ruled by a cacique or Taino Indian chief. Interestingly, when Haitians took their independence in the early 19th century they changed their colonial name from Saint Domingue (the name given by the French) to its Taino name of Haiti. After the French arrived in the seventeenth century to continue European exploitation in the Western Hemisphere, the indigenous population was largely exterminated. As a result, Africans (primarily from West Africa) were imported as slave labour to produce raw goods for international commerce. Did you know that Haiti was considered France’s richest colony in the eighteenth century? Haiti was known as “the Pearl of the Antilles.” Unfortunately, chronic instability, dictatorships and natural disasters in recent decades have left it as the poorest nation in the Americas. Haiti is the first nation ever to successfully gain independence through a slave revolt in 1804. However, independence came at a crippling economic cost. Haiti had to pay reparations to France, which demanded compensation for former slave owners. Importantly, the 19th Century "independence debt" was not paid off until 1947. Haiti’s ability to prosper economically was severely crippled after they were forced to pay France. There have been recent calls for France to repay the money; France has not addressed this lingering question. In 1825 the French king issued a decree that France would recognize Haitian independence but only at the price of 150 million francs. There are those who will argue that is a textbook case of extortion. The government of Haiti was forced to borrow 30 million francs from French banks to make the first two payments; it was hardly a surprise to anyone when Haiti defaulted soon thereafter. In 1838 the French king sent another expedition with 12 warships to force the Haitian president’s hand. The time for restitution by France is now. In 2004, the then President Jean-Bertrand Aristide suggested that France should repay $21 billion in reparations for this money extorted after independence. It can be argued that Haiti’s independence was viewed as a threat by all slave-owning countries including the United States. Haiti had no choice but to agree to the demands of France. Between 1964 and 1986 Haiti was ruled by the corrupt and oppressive father and son dictators of the Duvalier family. Many of Haiti’s problems can be traced to the stance taken by the western world. The western world strongly supported the Duvalier’s because they were anti-communist, and on the US’s side during the Cold War. In July 2021, President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated by unidentified gunmen in the capital, Port-au-Prince. In the middle of political stalemate, the country continues to be wracked by unrest and gang violence. Multinational Effort . The Voice of America (VoA) reports that gangs in Haiti control roughly 80% of Port-au-Prince, and violent crimes including kidnappings for ransom, carjacking, rapes and armed thefts are common. Peacekeeping efforts are not unique to Haiti. The government of Haiti has been pleading with the international community for over a year to send in a peace keeping force in order to arrest the spread of gang violence that has characterized Haiti’s recent history. The United Nations Secretary-General has visited Jamaica, Haiti and other stakeholders in recent times in an effort to galvanize and coordinate a multinational effort to Haiti. The UN Secretary- General has made it clear in his remarks regarding the state of Haiti. He stated that the people of Haiti are trapped in a living nightmare characterized by appalling humanitarian conditions and the brutality of the gangs. It appears that Haiti may finally be getting the international intervention its prime minister has been pleading for. Kenya has offered to send 1,000 police officers to the island to lead an international force in support of Haitian police efforts to curb gang violence. Already, there are some issues regarding this development. Firstly, there is likely going to be a communication barrier given that most Kenyans do not speak French or French Creole. Additionally, Kenya has very little experience leading a multinational force and therefore it is left to be seen how well equipped the Kenyans will be as they take on this well-needed but challenging task. A United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission was in operation in Haiti from 2004 to 2017 but fell out of favor after a cholera outbreak traced to infected UN personnel from Nepal claimed 9,500 lives. It is said that Kenya's commitment will result in a deployment of 1,000 police officers to help train and assist Haitian police restore normalcy in the country and protect strategic installations. It should be noted that Haiti is a member of CARICOM. It is therefore not surprising that CARICOM felt a sense of duty to respond to the ongoing social and political crisis in Haiti. The regional body has been strident in expressing their commitment to the process of assisting Haiti in order to improve the security and humanitarian conditions of the people of Haiti and support restoration of law and order. The CARICOM Eminent Persons Groups (EPG) The EPG comprising Former Prime Ministers Honourable Kenny Anthony of Saint Lucia, Rt. Honourable Perry Christie of The Bahamas and Honourable Bruce Golding of Jamaica will continue their meetings with all relevant stakeholders to facilitate a Haitian-led solution to the multiple crises facing the country. The Bahamian government has committed 150 people to support the effort if the United Nations authorizes the force in Haiti. Given that for over a year the UN has been trying to get a multinational force in place there is very little chance that the body will not authorize this mission. Jamaica has also given a commitment to send troops to Haiti. Jamaica has its fair share of challenges regarding crime and violence. Many will question why Jamaica has committed to send troops to a neighbouring country when crime and violence is a persistent problem. In 2021 over 1,400 Jamaicans were murdered. In 2022 close to 1,500 murders took place in Jamaica. Additionally, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) is operating below capacity. Up to December 2022, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) was operating at almost 30 per cent below capacity. The 2022 Economic and Social Survey Jamaica (ESSJ) said the overall strength of the JDF as at December 31 was 7,604. However, the report indicated that the regular force was 28 per cent below its establishment size of 9,760 which was set in 2018. The situation in Haiti is already having a direct impact on Jamaica. Haiti has a population of over 11 million people. The situation in Haiti if not managed carefully can lead to a massive humanitarian crisis in the Caribbean and the Americas. Already thirty-seven (37) Haitians have landed in Portland on July 10 after fleeing the lawlessness in their homeland. The Haitians have since requested asylum and the process is going through the court system. Other CARICOM member such as Antigua and Barbuda is actively considering joining in the multinational force.

Historical Bonds. Dutty Boukman (Most times referred to as “Boukman Dutty”) was a fearless leader who helped spark the Haitian Revolution which eventually led to the independent Republic of Haiti. Born in the region of Senegambia (present-day Senegal and Gambia), he was transported to Jamaica and then sold to a plantation in Haiti (called Saint-Domingue at the time). He taught enslaved Africans in Haiti how to read and understand the power of freedom. Boukman was a key leader of the slave revolt in the Le Cap Français region in the north of the colony. He was killed by the French planters and colonial troops on 7 November 1791. The French then publicly displayed Boukman's head in an attempt to dispel the aura of invincibility that Boukman had cultivated. The fact that French authorities did this illustrates their belief in the importance Boukman held to Haitian people. Even in his death Dutty Boukman lives on in the spirits of Haitians and Jamaicans. He is remembered for his visionary leadership and courage to tackle the French colonial powers that ultimately culminated in the Haitian Revolution. Post Slavery Societies. 1804 was a defining year of global proportions not only for Haiti where enslaved Africans successfully staged a revolt against French colonial rule. The year also was important in that it reshaped the geopolitical landscape for the Americas by providing a template regarding a successful slave revolt. A number of slave revolts occurred in the British West Indies after the 1804 Haitian Revolution. Notable among them are: the Bussa Rebellion in Barbados in 1816, the Demerara Revolt in Guyana, August 1823 and the Sam Sharpe Rebellion in Jamaica which took place in December 1831. Benedetta Rossi defines the term post-slavery as the historical and social circumstances identifiable in contexts where slavery was a fundamental social institution and its legal abolition was followed by resilient legacies of past hierarchy and abuse. Like most post-slavery societies public institutions were dysfunctional and discriminatory against those who were once enslaved. Post slavery also includes the gradual accession of those who were enslaved to access property rights or full citizenship. Given that most if not all of Haiti’s public institutions necessary for a thriving democracy needs rebuilding it therefore means that a long term commitment by any multinational force is desirable. The United Nations will once again be called upon to give oversight concerning this massive initiative. Obviously there will be an urgent need to train and develop Haitians so that they can take charge of their own destiny. Haiti has suffered too long while the rest of the world have turned their backs. The time to act is now! In the words of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the spirit of Ubuntu, that once led Haiti to emerge as the first independent black nation in 1804 cannot die. Today, this spirit of solidarity must and will empower all of us to rebuild Haiti. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #Haiti #CARICOM #Kenya