Corrosive Legacy

Shards of untold chronicles of deceit and distrust have poisoned the atmosphere in Haiti over the past couple of centuries: residual resentments over tumultuous relationships between the country and the world, particularly the United States. Those historical scars have casted some antagonistic clouds over the authenticity and genuineness of the world’s sudden altruistic and empathic initiatives.

Characterized by the Dalai Lama, “such a massive show of global assistance and solidarity -- one sign of the world's increased interdependence -- would not have been possible 100 years ago,” and many observers have agreed. As the shocking images grabbed the world’s attention, governments around the globe pledged about $10 billion over the span of 10 years to help with the long-term reconstruction of Haiti. In addition, individual benevolence had also funneled about $1.3 billion through NGOs and other aid organizations with direct access to the people of Haiti.

Nevertheless, history may disagree with the naïveté of some perceptions, as many now tend to look at Haiti’s prolonged torments through the prisms of finality. In fact, it may outright reject the notion that the recent chaotic implosion is the turning point for the poor nation. This is due, in large measure, to a legacy of corrosive policies aimed at-- according to some-- “hindering any step towards progress” of several generations.

 Those policies or “Haiti’s Death Plan”, as Tom Reeves explained in his extensive report, have literally constituted a death grip around the neck of a feeble nation then scrambling to establish its identity.

The U.S. and its powerful, influential imperialist partners needed to ensure that Haiti’s abolitionist ideals didn’t spill over into the entire Western Hemisphere. Hence, Haiti’s turbulent history was marked by centuries of strategic invasions, presidential assassinations, military coups, civil unrests, embargos, outright neglect, dismissals, and denials. In the meantime, Haiti’s economic infrastructure regressed to prehistoric status while its citizens starved. Consequently, some Haitians have been wondering about the true intentions of the foreigners this time around.

As recently as 2004, the incriminating fingerprints of the U.S. and its loyalists were found all over the civil unrest that led to the removal of the democratically elected President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide whom they restored to power only ten years prior. To accomplish this endeavor, U.S. Special Forces (about 200 of them) trained a 600-member paramilitary army of anti-Aristide Haitians in the neighborhood country of Dominican Republic and supplied them with 20,000 M16 rifles. Hipolito Mejia, the president of the Dominican Republic, inked that initiative.

Further, the same U.S. government, currently one of the largest donors in the rebuilding efforts that managed, in 2001, to convince Europeans countries, the IMF, WORLD BANK, and the European Union to suspend credits for Haiti. In addition, it also funds the International Republican Institute (IRI) with $3 million annually, an organization with strong connections to well-known criminals and thugs who led the civil uprising and eventual overthrow of Aristide. For instance, three months after the IRI met with the leader of the anti-Aristide movement, Guy Phillippe, 20 of his commandos attacked a hydroelectric plant in Haiti’s central plateau killing a security guard.

Not surprisingly though, incidents such as those were nothing new to Haitians; they have been at the mercy of imperialism’s iron fists since 1915 with the first U.S. invasion. It was then characterized as a strategic deterrent to growing German geopolitical ambitions over Haiti’s accessibility to the Panama Canal. However, five additional U.S. military interventions in Haiti would follow, yet the people of the country, 70 to 80 percent of whom has been unemployed, have not experienced any significant improvements in their lives as a result.

In light of this perpetual cycle, some have even conceded that every foreign intervention has left the country worse off and that the first sovereign black state in the Western Hemisphere was being punished for their insolence 206 years ago; hence, the residual resentments.

With presidential elections scheduled for November 28, 2010, what could be the agenda of the Obama Administration and his loyal imperialist following? “This was one of those moments that calls for American Leadership,” he argued passionately soon after the disaster leveled Port-au-Prince, and added that this intervention was “for the sake of our common humanity.”

On the other hand, several hundreds NGOs, with enough cash to perhaps purchase the entire country, continue to operate in stealth mode, about 24,000 foreign troops are on the ground, a crippled government plagued by a history of corruption, and enough power starved political parties to fill all 50 seats in the United States’ National Governor Association. This scenario may have provided some validity to the concerns and nervousness of so many Haitians.

While this impotent people look outward to the international gods to wave a magic wand and make its troubles disappear, they also question the credibility of the flood of emotions thrown at them. Meanwhile, some familiar tune has invaded the atmosphere in Haiti: it will take some drastic steps to convince donors to honor their pledges.

"I'm going to call all those governments and say, the ones who said they'll give money to support the Haitian government, I want to try to get them to give the money, and I'm trying to get the others to give me a schedule for when they'll release it,"

These are the words of former President Bill Clinton in a televised interview with CNNs Anderson Cooper.

Rapadoo,

Renewed Hope or Despair

CNN announced this morning that Haitian-born philanthropist, Wyclef Jean, would officially announce his bid for the November 28^th Haitian presidential race on Larry King tonight. That event would undoubtedly underline the singer’s global reach since he would become the first Haitian presidential candidate to make such an announcement abroad. More significantly however, it would perhaps show the disadvantage of the competition, including his own uncle and ambassador to the U.S., Raymond Joseph. In addition, Jean told the press that he would also resign from Yele Haiti, his charity organization to focus on his campaign.

‘Not a Joke’

"It's not something that was taken lightly, it's not a joke, it's something very, very serious," younger brother --Samuel Jean-- told the Associated Press in a phone interview. According to many Haitians, this stage would demonstrate the hip-hop artist’s grasp of public relations and media matters. Should that be the case however, what should we say to those who think that he is tending the wrong media since the Haitian media would play an indispensable role covering his national campaign? Still, his brother maintained, “It is different for us, but we a proud of him and we are going to support him in any way we can.”

‘Not like the others’

Inarguably, his loyal and empathic commitment to the neglected majority coupled with the inherent distrust of Haitians in their corrupted political system would put a populous wind at his back going into November. A commonsensical scenario that would also make him an overwhelming favorite as the people of Haiti has desperately been waiting for its Moses to lead it to its promise land. Among the enthused are Dominique Lapierre, a sales person in Port-au-Prince and 28-year-old Michelle Volma.

“He is not like the others, he has an authentic heart,” Lapierre said. “Wyclef has done so much for this country,” she continued, “especially for the youth. Lapierre then declared, “I believe that he can really change this country.” Similarly, Volma feels “Haiti needs something new. I’ll vote for him,” reported the Associated Press. She found his age and outsider status very attractive. In fact, many of Jean’s supporters share her views. They cling to his genuine motivation and hang their hats on the fact that his vast wealth makes him less likely to do this for personal gain, the perpetual cycle of local politicians.

On the other hand, growing murmurs escaping the debris inhabiting the land would pose an important question: could the hip-hop icon take ravaged Haiti on the road to recovery and finally put it on the map?

‘Not a politician’

“I don’t really think he knows the country, he’s like an American,” argued 27-year-old Anise Ulysse to the Christian Science Monitor. Ulysse said she would not vote for anyone in the up coming elections because “It’s difficult for Haitians to have any faith in the election, we are so used to politicians taking advantage of us,” she argued, “The people living on the streets have other things to think about” she later added. Marie Lacrete, 26, also echoed these very sentiments highlighting Jean’s lack of a college education.  “I don’t have a problem with Wyclef, but he’s not the right person to be president,” Lacrete Said. “He’s a musician, not a politician,” she added. She also pointed out the singer’s wealth, popularity, and the people lack of understanding on the issues would help him galvanize votes.

The 3-time Grammy Award winner will have to do much to appease his critics and the fact that he has chosen a primetime international stage to roll out his campaign made the stakes even higher. “He can’t even manage an enterprise properly,” decried Lacrete, referring to TV station Telemax, which –she said-- has been on the decline since its acquisition by the singer. “How is he going to manage Haiti?” The presidency is no small task especially after the recent catastrophe. Hence, what Jean says tonight could potentially make or break his dreams.

Rapadoo,

Democracy for Sale

"If I was president, I'd get elected on Friday, assassinated on Saturday, buried on Sunday, Then go back to work on Monday." These are mirthful lyrics from Wyclef Jean’s song “If I was President.” Although seemingly farfetched, some troubling realities of Haitian presidential history are embedded within those lines.  Ironical, should he really become president of Haiti next year.

The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that Wyclef Jean, Haitian-born entertainer -- Grammy Award winner—is entertaining the idea of entering the up-coming presidential race in his homeland.

“An opportunity that he’s exploring and exploring seriously,” declared his brother Sam Jean, who runs Wyclef’s charitable organization, Yele Haiti Foundation. Sam added, “Most of the population in Haiti is under the age of 26, I believe, so the youth have really clamored to him.”

This latest news sent shock waves through the Haitian community. The successful hip-hop singer is well known for his stardom as well as his philanthropist and humanitarian work geared towards the poorest of Haiti; however, his political ambitions --to this point-- remained inconspicuous. As for his eligibility to run for presidential office, Article 135 of the Haitian constitution spells it out as follow:

a.                           Be a native-born Haitian and never have renounced Haitian nationality.

b.                           Have attained 35 years of age by the Election Day.

c.                           Enjoy civil and political rights and never have been sentenced to death, personal restraint or penal servitude or the loss of civil rights for a crime of ordinary law.

d.                           Be the owner in Haiti of at least one real property and have his habitual residence in the country.

e.                           Have resided in the country for five consecutive years before the date of the elections.

f.                          Have been relieved of his responsibilities if he has been handling public funds.

Although the 37-year-old has yet to officially declared his candidacy, some reports have indicated that he has already filed the necessary papers to become an official candidate. Meanwhile, his camp maintained that, “at this time, Wyclef Jean has not announced his intent to run for Haitian president. If and when a decision is made, media will be alerted immediately,” leaving the idea floating in the realm of possibilities.

Perhaps most interestingly or even ironical, Raymond Joseph -- Jean’s uncle – Haiti’s ambassador to the U.S., told the Christian Monitor that he will also run for President on November 28^th this year. He would not dispel reports on the likelihood of his nephew running for the highest office during the phone interview; nonetheless, he stated, “ No, I wouldn’t say running against, I would say running parallel.” This would seem to indicate that Jean may be orchestrating a major PR campaign to not only test public opinion but to also mobilize his fan base and possibly throw all of his weight behind his uncle close to election day, an Everest of an endorsement.

Not surprisingly, Eduardo Gamarra, a political science professor at Florida International University and a close follower of Haitian affairs said, "I think he [Joseph] would be a strong contender, I’m not endorsing him, but I am saying that he does fit the profile of what many expect to see in the next round: someone able to engage the international community." Gamarra did however concede that Jean probably had more resources to run a campaign than the other candidates emphasizing the importance of money.

Rapadoo,

Flickering Hope

Immersed in the rumbling ocean of “runaway NGOs,” the agony of the distraught victims, and 20 million cubic meters of rubble, some little candles --sparks of hope-- barely noticeable, are flickering. They are optimistic signs indicating that the lives of many Haitians are improving. However, if like most people, you were bombarded with traumatic images of the reprehensible conditions plaguing the refugee camps on June 12^th, you too, might have missed the successful efforts that were slowly bubbling their way onto the surface.

Alas, the perceived stagnancy of the relief efforts exposed by the media is a sad reality. Nonetheless, taking a few seconds to filter out the noise and taking a closer look, you too, would have detected a flimsy but steady pulse; indications that this maltreated republic had every reasons to be optimistic.

The situation in Haiti is by no mean unambiguous. Observers would need two sets of lenses to fully comprehend the enormity of the problem.  First, retrospective lenses would bring into focus pre-catastrophic conditions: they could be anachronistic, yet imperative to grasp that reality. Second, actuality lenses would unveil post-quake situations, serve as a measuring device, and perhaps help broaden perceptions.

Absent a set of binoculars, former President Bill Clinton’s remarks would be just as encompassing. "To those who say we have not done enough, I think all of us who are working in this area agree this is a harder job (than the tsunami)," Clinton stated referring to the massive 2004 Indonesian Tsunami. "Viewed comparatively,” he continued, “I think the Haitian government and the people who are working here have done well in the last six months."

A glimpse into the grim Haitian reality prior to the earthquake according to Oxfam Solidarite, a humanitarian organization working in Haiti for 32 years.

55% of the population lived with less than $1.25 per day

86% of the urban population lived in slums

47% of the population did not have access to basic health services

83% of the population did not have an adequate access to medical care

With a literacy rate of 45 percent, a stunning 55 percent of school-aged children were out of school prior to the demolition. Six months later however, UNICEF estimated that the earthquake affected 90 percent of 4,992 schools. Further, its six months progress report, Milestones at Six Months, revealed that about 80 percent of schools in Port-au-Prince and all schools in three other major cities that were severely hit have reopened. This was a significant development considering the fact that CIA World Factbook estimates that 37.5 percent of the population is under the age of 15 and about 60 percent under the age of 18. Besides the obvious psychological respite these schools have provided switching the focus of the children from their demises to learning, this initiative planted a seed of intellect in the future of Haiti. “Education is key,” said Ms. Gruloos-Ackermans, UNICEF Representative in Haiti. “We have to have all children at school and we have to have quality of education. It will be really complicated. It’s a long process and we have to be all together – partnering, not competing,” she added. Equally noticeable, these children are not roaming the streets freely where ill-advised practices could attract them.

In addition to education, enormous progress has been made in the medical front as well, yet no one could tell. Coordinated efforts of the 4 major medical organizations (the Red Cross, MSF, Doctors of the World and FRIEND) made medical care available to more than a half-million people. Since the catastrophe, nearly all of the health centers, still standing, have reopened administering care free of charge. These organizations have also undertaken massive vaccination campaigns, a deterrent to possible outbreaks of preventable diseases. The National Center for Cooperation and Development (CNCD) reported that 90 percent of the population had access to health care, whereas before a shocking 60 percent of Haitians could not afford to consult a doctor. Noticeably, there has been no epidemic outbreak; hence the worst did not come. Additionally, several other NGOs have provided safe water, latrines, and other basic health services to the refugees’ camps.

Furthermore, more than 30,000 people participated in the rebuilding framework of the project “Work for Food Program” or WFP in just the first week of its implementation and the number of participants has increased daily since. Also, more than 150,000 people have received food and other incentives through this project. Moreover, the participants are paid $5 dollars every day for helping clean the streets, the construction of the irrigation canals, and other activities to face the cyclonic season. By year-end, it’s projected that more than 140,000 Haitians will have a regular income thanks to the program. WFT will also make it possible to nourish 700,000 people through December. Although temporary, these kinds of program will help Haitians regain some sanity and keep them from desperate criminal behaviors.

In addition to being Haiti’s national sport, soccer has always been a main source of entertainment for Haitians. In the absence of a strong national team, they have indentified with some of the greatest team in the history of the sport. Among the many fanatics, an overwhelming majority support teams such as Brazil, Argentina, France, Germany, Netherlands, and even the U.S. Therefore, it was a special treat to them when Lionel “Leo” Messi, FIFA World Player of the Year, showed up in Haiti eager to have firsthand experience with what he had only learned through media coverage. The world-renowned FC Barcelona and Argentina national football team player said, “It was overwhelming to see the overcrowded displacement camps, the poverty in which people here live,” after visiting Carrefour Aviation, a camp where 50,000 displaced Haitians live in tents. The enthusiastic fans, hundreds of them, wearing Argentina t-shirts, waving Argentinean flags, screamed and shouted as their hero squeezed his way through the area. After meeting with a group of children and answering their questions, Messi added, “I believe that sports are really important for children. I learned my most important lessons in life through sport. It is where I had my opportunity, and I wish the same for them.” That was a much-needed escape for children who admired the footballer and aspired to be like him some day.

Inarguably, people are suffering in Haiti right now, millions of them. Words escape me when trying to properly frame their ordeals; however, these sparks, while they may not be enough to shine the reigning darkness of reprehensibility, are enough to stake their own claim on priorities. Most significantly though, these little flickering flames have fostered hope in the heart of a people yearning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Lanmou San Fontie

Menm si ke se anba fose pou peyi’a kenbe plas li na lis peyi pov yo, san pep la toujou koule “ble & Rouj.” Lanmou patriyotik sila pa gen parey. Pep la leve drapo li pi wo malgre gouvenman magouye, imiliasyon ak ront, neglijans ak mepri comminote entenasyonal lan. Yo ta menm fe konpran’n ken an tou peyi nan emisfe oksidantal yo, se ayiti ki pi mal. Men pou nou menm konpatriyot se ti paradi nou li ye. Yo met di say o vle yo pap janmen jwenn bout lanmou pep ayisien genyen pou ti peyi rev sila.

Rapadoo

La Fierte Haitienne

          L’amour d’un peuple pour son pays devient évident lorsque même qu'en tenant au bout des doigts l'évolution du quart de monde, ses veines coulent toujours "Bleu et Rouge." Il soulève son pavillon plus haut en dépit de la carence en leadership, les humiliations continuelles, et le licenciement complète de la communauté internationale. Celle la nous appelle le pays le plus pauvre de l'hémisphère occidental, mais nous; nous l'appelons paradis et la perle des antilles.  C'est ça l'amour et la fierté d'un peuple souverain.
Rapadoo

Haitian Pride

You know a people loves its country when even barely hanging to the run away train of the fourth world, its veins still run “Bleu and Red.” It raises its flag even higher in spite of failure of leadership, repeated humiliations, and complete dismissal of the international community. They call us the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, yet we call it paradise. It that’s not pride I don’t know what is.


Rapadoo