News
and opinions on situation in Haiti |
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| 8/10/06 |
Caricom and Haiti: The raising of the Caribbean’s ‘Iron Curtain’ – Cultural activist and Haitian human rights defender, Myrtha Desulme’s positive contributions to Haiti all the way from Jamaica |
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Date: 8 October 2006 Dan Wasserman cartoons archive – The Boston Globe – HLLN’s Myrtha Desulme’s contributions to Haiti all the way from Jamaica, Ezili Danto, HLLN, October 8, 2006, for Haitian Perspectives – Caricom and Haiti: The raising of the Caribbean’s ‘Iron Curtain’ **************************************************************** HLLN’s Myrtha Desulme’s contributions to Haiti all the way from Jamaica, Ezili Danto, HLLN, October 8, 2006, for Haitian Perspectives “…International propaganda notwithstanding, those in-the-know know that the Haitian people are a great nation – resilient, hard-working, honest and resourceful – who have boosted the economies of The Bahamas, Turks & Caicos Islands Dominica, the U.S.A., Canada and France. Haiti’s labour force benefits from a structural youthfulness, as 40 per cent are under 15 years old, 55 per cent are under 65, and only 5 per cent are over 65. (excerpt from Caricom and Haiti: The raising of the Caribbean’s ‘Iron Curtain’, Myrtha Desulme, Contributor) Ezili Danto’s Note: We have met, and dialogued and are maintaining a relationship with many other great folks such as the iconic journalist and indefatigable Haitian rights defender, John Maxwell of Jamaica, senior economic and international policy analyst, such as our dearest Ms. Hazel Ross Robinson of St. Kitts, and other courageous movers and shakers, living in the Caribbean, who also, like you, are part of the “…great movement afoot to undo .. centuries of division and the isolation of Haiti, the “sacrificial lamb” – the country which paid such an exorbitant price for pioneering, through the sacrifice of blood and fire, the cycle of emancipation and decolonization in the Western Hemisphere.” We would hope that as the newly elected Rene Preval government in Haiti find its footing, that whoever it assigns to work with CARICOM shall look to tapping your wealth of information and that of the other proven stalwarts, Myrtha Desulme, and to join with you and the thousands upon thousands in the Caribbean who have DEDICATED their heart, soul and part of their lifework to eviscerating the international propaganda that tell lies about Haiti the better to contain it in poverty, the better to steal its wealth and capacity for advancement. HLLN has met none as tireless in informing the world as the honorable John Maxwell, who every Sunday does not forget to remember Haiti in his weekly article in all the years we’ve become aware of his work. If noone ever says thank you, HLLN does. We have been more than privileged to built the HLLN coalition with follks like you, who revere Haiti’s great sacrifices, its historical contributions and its courage to continue to say NO to re-colonization so that all could live free. Our work makes headways because it’s your work. HLLN knows that. Haiti has many good sons and daughters everywhere. It is only the few that make our life so difficult. But tomorrow?s sun has risen. There’s a learning curve here for Haitians in Haiti to be able to take advantage of the opportunities presented with this new relationship with CARICOM that could be made easier if folks like you, John Maxwell, Hazel Ross Robinson, Myrtha Desulme and others, are searched out for consultation and to help in connecting Haiti with the key stakeholders in CARICOM and throughout the Caribbean who have always stood with the Haitian majority. We hope that Haiti’s government learns from the mistakes of the past and not squander the opportunities offered by those who were there, in its darkest of night under the whip of the US, Canada and France since Feb. 29, 2004 and who stood firm for what is right, Constitutional and ethical. We hope Haiti’s popularly elected government has learn that the ones with the MOST money, most “traditional” views are not always “a friend to Haiti” and honors and steps to the edge with the multifaceted but humane, just and authentically democratic views and works of folks, like the honorable Ralph E. Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent, Randall Robinson and Hazel Ross Robinson of St. Kitts, John Maxwell and you Myrtha Desulme, and with all decent folks, throughout the Caribbean and the world, Dessalines’ “Lovers of Liberty,” who stood for democracy and equity for Haiti’s majority from the heart against powerful winds, overwhelming obstacles and who were ostracized for the positions they stood for, in our name. This new relationship with CARICOM offers amazing opportunities for one and all. For one, the new CARICOM passport is something that will, virtually, for the first time, offer Haitians the opportunity to legally travel, freely, throughout the Caribbean. To meet the requirements to get this passport is something Haitians need understand. It makes basic schooling something Haitians must be afforded. For without skills and useful education this opportunity will not be made available to the majority as necessary. The learning curve for Haitians is steep, dissemination of useful information critical. But, men anpil chay pa lou. Kenbe fè sè mwen. Pa lage. Ezili Dantò Caricom and Haiti: The raising of the Caribbean’s ‘Iron Curtain’ Myrtha Desulme,* Contributor www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20061008/focus/focus5.html CARICOM’S total population is about 14 million, 60 per cent of which are Haitian, making the most-spoken language in CARICOM not English, not even French, but Haitian Creole, the language of the majority. OK, no need to panic! Just a little shock therapy to see whether you were paying attention! CARICOM being a monolingual organisation, (quite a rare phenomenon in the world of international institutions), has already declared that English will remain the official language of the community, though it has conceded that efforts should be made to deepen the use of French in the region. A great number of Haitians speak English, either because they have studied in American universities, or have at some point lived in the U.S. Be that as it may, the hard opening facts above are nevertheless the prism through which some Haitians view CARICOM. The integration of Haiti into CARICOM remains the biggest challenge, which the community has yet to face, owing to the social, linguistic, judicial, political, and economic obstacles to be overcome. How will we reconcile Haiti’s judicial system, which is based on the French Napoleonic Code, with the Caribbean Court of Justice’s English common law regime? Owing to IMF dictates, Haiti has the lowest tariffs in the region. The question of tariff harmonisation will also have to be resolved if Haiti is to join CARICOM’s Common External Tariff. Many quandaries still remain to be sorted out. If this integration is achieved, however, it will be CARICOM’s most rewarding milestone, and a great triumph for the hemisphere as a whole. THREE-FOLD PATTERN OF DIVISION The Caribbean has inherited a three-fold pattern of division from its former colonisers: The traditional enmity, which existed between France, Spain and Britain. A “divide and conquer” policy which the European powers used to maintain control. The systematic isolation of Haiti, as the country which won its Independence on terms that the metropolis considered unthinkable and unacceptable, (the seizure of the State, and the banishment of the French). There is a great movement afoot to undo these centuries of division and the isolation of Haiti, the “sacrificial lamb” – the country which paid such an exorbitant price for pioneering, through the sacrifice of blood and fire, the cycle of emancipation and decolonisation in the Western Hemisphere. Haiti was granted provisional membership in CARICOM in 1997, and became a full member in 2002. After a 28-month suspension, owing to the unconstitutional ouster of President Aristide, and the imposition of a puppet interim regime by the U.S., CARICOM has welcomed Haiti back into its fold in response to the return of democratic rule, after the election of René Préval in February. Although present trade with CARICOM is only 1 per cent of Haiti’s total trade with the rest of the world, it is likely that it will rise in the median to long-term, owing to better access to trade information and harmonisation of rules and standards, which will help to open business horizons and opportunities. MARKET Haiti is a virgin market, which needs everything. Its nine million people represent a vast market for goods and services. The Haitian import market is more than US$3 billion per year. There is a tremendous amount of business to be done, and CARICOM cannot only foster Haiti’s development, but also benefit from the expanding networks. Mobile telecommunications giant Digicel, which is operating in 20 Caribbean countries, has found Haiti to be its most profitable market. International propaganda notwithstanding, those in-the-know know that the Haitian people are a great nation – resilient, hard-working, honest and resourceful – who have boosted the economies of The Bahamas, Turks & Caicos Islands Dominica, the U.S.A., Canada and France. Haiti’s labour force benefits from a structural youthfulness, as 40 per cent are under 15 years old, 55 per cent are under 65, and only 5 per cent are over 65. CARICOM members will open banks and businesses in Haiti. Competition of more firms opening businesses will help to make Haitian firms more efficient and create employment. A wider variety of goods and services will become available at better prices to the Haitian consumer. Direct foreign investment and private and sovereign loans are bound to increase with integration, and stimulate the economy. Membership in a large economic bloc will strengthen Haiti in international negotiations with institutions such as WTO, FTAA, etc. The Regional Negotiating Machinery of CARICOM can be an appropriate instrument for strengthening Haiti’s bargaining position in trade negotiations, and giving it a more effective voice in international fora. Existing free-trade agreements between CARICOM and other countries will automatically benefit Haiti. Some trade gains can accrue immediately in areas where Haiti already has a competitive advantage, such as arts and craft. Haiti’s art is widely appreciated and acknowledged as being incontestably the most original of all Afro-Caribbean cultural manifestations. Haiti has a cultural identity which distinguishes it from other CARICOM countries. There can be no doubt that British imperial rule has more profoundly shaped the nations under it than the French system was able to do in Haiti, falling short of about 160 years of British influence. During the last CARICOM Conference, the Heads of Government meeting in St Kitts pointed to Haiti’s cultural usefulness in terms of Caribbean integration, in the following statement: “It is necessary to point out that Haiti has a great contribution to make to Caribbean life in terms of culture, and to the development of a Caribbean identity.” CARICOM leaders have paid many wonderful tributes to Haiti’s historical significance and cultural richness, and have often expressed their eagerness to assist Haiti, and embrace her into the Caribbean family; but they have systematically failed to give any tangible demonstration of this goodwill to the Refugees, who have collapsed on their doorsteps, in search of protection and assistance. INTRODUCING HAITI Haiti is Africa in the Caribbean. She is actually the eldest daughter of France and Africa. Haiti is: roosters crowing at dawn, coffee plucked wild from mountainsides, red sunsets plunging behind majestic mountain peaks, headlong valleys, bright and exotic flowers, vast ruins of a glorious past, the call of the conch, drums and burning cane fields in the night, rum from ancient iron kettles, proud peasants, sparkling seas, dainty gingerbread houses, exquisite French Creole cuisine, romance from the catch of a meringue, the swirl of white-robed priestesses dancing for the gods of Africa, a French taste for luxury and refinement, an explosion of art, colour and music. Embracing Haiti means that the Caribbean would have come full circle, and matured to the point where it is now ready to return to its roots. This does not mean regression as some might think. It does not mean that we do not also embrace all of the other ethnic and cultural influences which form an integral part of who we are, making us “Out of Many, One People”. It just means that we embrace and honour our full identity in all of its multifaceted and multicultural diversity, so that the Caribbean can take its place within the family of nations, not as dependencies, but as a strong unit, confident in its unique identity, “walking with heads erect, proud owners of a New World, admitting no inequality, feeling no inferiority, only a great humility and wonder, for the Destiny that shall be theirs.” (H.D. Carberry) Myrtha Desulme is President of the Haiti-Jamaica Society. ******************************** October 17, 2006 marks the bi-centennial of the death of Haiti’s founding What’s in a name? Kouwòn pou Defile by Michel Sanon Three Ideals of Dessalines Blan Mannan by Feliks Moriso Lewa English translation by HLLN: ************************** Action Alert: Write letters urging UN to Protect civilians and human right workers in Gran Ravine/Martissant |
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