03/17/2006
print
send
20 have passed since Jean-Claude Douvalier left Haiti (7 February 1986), and
the country has finally had it first democratic elections. Twenty years that have
been characterised by coup d’etats, unexpected changes in alliances, farcical
elections and, more than anything, by the presence/absence of the charismatic
leader, Jean Bertrand Aristide. “Titid”, as the popular former priest/president
is still called, has also left Haiti, leaving a damaged, disillusioned and, above
all, economically and morally bankrupt country. In the last two years, since when
Aristide fled (27 February 2004) to the present day, a provisional transitory
government and a strong United Nations contingent have ferried Haiti towards its
first elections and towards a future that hopefully, finally will be democratic.
The electoral period. The election was won on the first ballot (51% of votes) by the super-favourite,
Rene Garcia Preval, the former president of Haiti (1996-2000) and man of the left
who was very closely linked to Aristide for twenty years before cutting all ties
in the last five years.
Preval’s difficult task. Rene' Preval has a very difficult task, but in reality it’s not impossible.
Haiti has the human, natural and cultural resources necessary to rise again, and
it can always count on the 2 million citizens who live outside Haiti and who could
divert their generous aid (2 million US dollars every day) from simple humanitarian
aid into production investment, while the international community is currently
confirming yet again its willingness to support Haiti in its reconstruction. In
truth, an enormous amount of money (9 billion US dollars) has already been available
for some time and is only awaiting the legal reassembling of the Haitian State.
Rene Preval appears to be the right man at the right time, capable of placating
the fury of the hundreds of armed gangs, motivating the industrialists and closing
the terrible gap that exists between the rich and the poor. He is one of the few
Haitians able to visit any country in the world or speak to any foreign power
without being thought of as being corrupt or labelled a thief or a drug smuggler.
printsend
More than a month after the elections, a new sense of trust prevails on the island
Written for PeaceReporter by
Francesco Fantoli
Francesco Fantoli
20 have passed since Jean-Claude Douvalier left Haiti (7 February 1986), and
the country has finally had it first democratic elections. Twenty years that have
been characterised by coup d’etats, unexpected changes in alliances, farcical
elections and, more than anything, by the presence/absence of the charismatic
leader, Jean Bertrand Aristide. “Titid”, as the popular former priest/president
is still called, has also left Haiti, leaving a damaged, disillusioned and, above
all, economically and morally bankrupt country. In the last two years, since when
Aristide fled (27 February 2004) to the present day, a provisional transitory
government and a strong United Nations contingent have ferried Haiti towards its
first elections and towards a future that hopefully, finally will be democratic.
The electoral period. The election was won on the first ballot (51% of votes) by the super-favourite,
Rene Garcia Preval, the former president of Haiti (1996-2000) and man of the left
who was very closely linked to Aristide for twenty years before cutting all ties
in the last five years. A number of international observers have expressed their dismay and spoken of
yet another false step for Haiti, since they believe that Preval has too many
connections with Aristide’s old guard, which is seen as corrupt, violent and useless
as far as results are concerned.
Other observers, however, underline the complete break made by Preval from Aristide’s
party, Lavalas, which happened in total silence (2001-2005) in the small village
of Marmelade where Preval was born. This tiny country village, where the agronomist
Preval set about creating work, infrastructure ands culture, is a small example
of the development that everyone in the country now hopes can be reproduced on
a national scale.
I also hope that Preval has distanced himself from Aristide, and above all, despite
the suffering, abuses and violence inflicted on the Haitian population during
his first mandate, I think that Preval is the only man at the moment who has the
means of reconciling this tortured island.
Haiti is currently the poorest country in America, and the Haitian population
(9 million) is experiencing the most dramatic moment of its existence.
All the economic and social indicators are negative while the lack of governmental
authority has cancelled all perceptions of the State, creating a situation that
appears to everyone to be of pure anarchy.
The picture that Haiti presents today is like a smack in the face. You don’t
have to be a sociologist or an economist to understand that the country has been
literally destroyed, submerged by rubbish, overcrowded with bidonvilles where
living conditions are inhuman, destabilised by bands of delinquents and saddled
with unemployment of over 70%. A country without roads, schools or hospitals,
a country without water or electricity supplies, a country where the police are
recognised mainly for their corruption and their delinquency, and a country where
the small number of industries that once existed have long since closed down.
Preval’s difficult task. Rene' Preval has a very difficult task, but in reality it’s not impossible.
Haiti has the human, natural and cultural resources necessary to rise again, and
it can always count on the 2 million citizens who live outside Haiti and who could
divert their generous aid (2 million US dollars every day) from simple humanitarian
aid into production investment, while the international community is currently
confirming yet again its willingness to support Haiti in its reconstruction. In
truth, an enormous amount of money (9 billion US dollars) has already been available
for some time and is only awaiting the legal reassembling of the Haitian State.
Rene Preval appears to be the right man at the right time, capable of placating
the fury of the hundreds of armed gangs, motivating the industrialists and closing
the terrible gap that exists between the rich and the poor. He is one of the few
Haitians able to visit any country in the world or speak to any foreign power
without being thought of as being corrupt or labelled a thief or a drug smuggler.
While waiting to be sworn in, on a date yet to be fixed, Preval has already started
work, spending his first 50 days meeting with national and international figures
who could be useful in helping to reconstruct the State.
Even though he has made very few promises and very few public speeches, it appears
that there is a general consensus, an almost unconditional approval of the simple
and rational approach to the problems that Preval and his group of close advisors
have adopted.
Since 7 February 2006 Haiti has been experiencing its first moments of calm in
recent years. The army is silent, the population has become fond of hopeful speeches
and people believe in the future.
Topic:
Related articles:
Most discussed topics:
Most frequently used keywords:
