Since 1994, throughout my career, I have been interested in Haiti, a country as fascinating as it is confusing. Fascinating first, because I have been there for 28 years, having been Canada’s ambassador there from 2008 to 2010 and again in 2014. I have witnessed great moments, such as during the economic recovery of 2008 -2009 where investors mostly concluded that Haiti was conducive to investment.
Posted at 12:00 p.m.
I also experienced one of the greatest disasters in history there with the earthquake of 2010. I saw extraordinary examples of courage and resilience in the face of this terrible tragedy. You should also know that at the beginning of the 19the century, Haiti was able to demonstrate to the colonial powers how one can get rid of the chains of slavery, becoming the first independent black republic. An excellent article from New York Times1 demonstrated with force and detail the sad role of France once expelled from the island of Hispaniola, which imposed a ransom valued in billions of dollars as so-called compensation: a disgrace. Michaëlle Jean, our former Governor General, subsequently expressed a moving opinion2 in The Presson the injustices and suffering suffered by Haiti for two centuries.
It is also confusing when we see, despite several examples of courage and determination, the difficulties experienced by Haitians in order to find, still in 2022, solutions to the problems that afflict them. The assassination a year ago of President Jovenel Moïse, in the middle of the night in his residence by a commando, caused a new political crisis. This murder, for which the conclusions of the investigation are still awaited, has contributed to considerably increasing the already dramatic climate of insecurity and political vacuum in Haiti.
From a security point of view, the United Nations reported that last May there were more than 200 kidnappings: a statistic that unfortunately no longer surprises.
This is without counting those that are never publicly declared in order to avoid an inflation of the ransom demand.
Kidnappings now take place in broad daylight, with street gangs taunting police forces without restraint. On June 25, a nun who gave 20 years of her life to help the poorest was murdered because she resisted the theft of her suitcase. Haitians, expatriates, diplomats, religious, all are threatened. No neighborhood is spared. The interim Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, even speaks of total chaos in the capital.
Political deadlock
The political deadlock disturbs me just as much. The country’s very difficult economic and social situations are partly dependent on external factors, as mentioned above. On the other hand, what I have not yet managed to understand since 1994 is the inability of Haitian political decision-makers and Haitian representatives of civil society to find lasting solutions to the problems of governance in their country.
During my years in this country, considerable sums were spent to strengthen the justice system and the governance of the State. Canada, for example, has strengthened the national police and judicial infrastructures (courts of justice, school for the judiciary, penitentiaries, police stations). We have supported the strengthening of the civil service, the Senate, the electoral council and so on. We have been heavily criticized, with some accusing Canada of wanting to control the country. I disagree on this subject. And I have discussed with Presidents Préval and Martelly, many Prime Ministers and Ministers of Justice that the governance of Haiti depends exclusively on Haitian decision-makers. This is a 100% Haitian issue, which only requires Haitian political will.
It is the will to agree that is lacking. It is the chronic inability to find a vital consensus for the future of the country in the context of a very serious security and constitutional crisis.
Civil society, represented by Le Groupe du Montana, and Prime Minister Ariel Henry have been discussing for months, not on the way out of the political crisis, but on discussions-negotiations. We negotiate what we will negotiate on. I quote a brief passage from an article in the news writer, the Haitian daily, quite revealing: “Reading the lists of negotiators and knowing their talent, we can hope for an agreement before the end of the decade. A meaningful comment!
Given the gravity of the situation, is the urgency of ending the crisis really at the center of negotiators’ concerns? At the same time, some people are considering bringing former President Aristide back to political prominence as a solution to the crisis. A shortcut that is more magical thinking than a serious solution to build this consensus so essential for the future of Haiti. Meanwhile, 10 million Haitians are still desperately waiting…