Haiti emerges from the depths

Dec 12, 2009 Editorial

Haiti has long been described as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. It was never allowed to develop in its more than 250 years of existence.
Indeed, Haiti can truly claim to be the first independent nation in the Western Hemisphere. To now be described as the poorest tells the story of its independence.
There was a war with France led by Toussaint L’Ouverture. That was followed by a bitter internal war that left most of the country denuded and barren. Ever since, Haiti has not known peace, its people have always been struggling against one leader or another.
There was Francois ‘Papa Doc’ Duvalier who ruled for decades with an iron hand and who was able to keep the population in control through measures that many scoff at but which were effective as they were harsh and rigidly enforced by the Ton Ton Macoutes.
Papa Doc’s successor, his son Jean Claude ‘Baby Doc’ Duvalier was ousted and so did many others after him, no government lasting longer than two years. It was this instability that condemned Haiti to its poverty-stricken state.
Illiteracy was high and matched the level of poverty. The elites were in their own corner, banking in France and setting up homes in the Mother Country. They cared little for Haiti.
The international community began to play an increasingly greater role; there were peacekeepers to help curb the violence that had become the norm and there were the financial inflows.
Of interest was a television news broadcast of people languishing in jail for years in Haiti. Close examination showed that a similar situation existed in Guyana but its political stability kept this country out of the same spotlight as Haiti. But Guyana was not far behind. In fact, there were those who at one time said that Guyana was poorer than Haiti.
But Guyana has a history of stability and a very literate population. It was not in the same league and in any case, Guyana was one of the founders of the regional integration movement, a movement that has grown from strength to strength.
But it is Haiti on which we need to focus. Few people wanted to go to Haiti and Haitians left the country in droves to seek their fortunes. They have set up communities in sections of the United States, the country to which they escaped in nothing short of death traps.
On Thursday, the Caricom Secretariat placed Haiti under the microscope and the findings were visible. The Assistant Secretary General under whose portfolio Haiti falls, spoke of the stability; the ease with which there were political transformations; the new investments.
The Haitian elites are now investing in the country and this is an indication of the confidence in the political situation. But there is more.
Caricom is showing that it has found that Haiti has moved along the road to democracy. The reward is the chairmanship of Caricom.
It was not so long ago that Haiti was an associate member. Then it became a full member taking part in all the decisions and serving on some of the regional bodies.
But there is a lot that needs to be done for Haiti. For one, free movement of skills, while very alive in the region has not seen much movement on the part of Haiti.
There is the movement of Caricom nationals across the region. People from the English-speaking members do not need visas to enter each other’s territory. Haiti, although a member of Caricom, would not enjoy this facility. Its population may be a limiting factor.
Haiti has a population of almost 10 million people, three times more than the most populous Caricom country. The region cannot imagine unrestricted visits by Haitians.
But for all that Haiti has moved a long way toward what democracy should be and the attendant benefits loom. The Chairmanship of Caricom is just one.

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