"The Root of Haiti’s Misery: Reparations to Enslavers" (NYT)

[bixaorellana]

Here is a remarkable, quite extensive history lesson ~

Violence. Tragedy. Hunger. Underdevelopment. These bywords have clung to Haiti for more than a century. Kidnappings. Outbreaks. Earthquakes. The president assassinated — this time in his bedroom.

How is it possible, many ask, that Haiti shares an island with the Dominican Republic, with its underground subway system, health care coverage, public schools, teeming resorts and impressive stretches of economic growth?

Corruption is the usual explanation, and not without reason: Haiti’s leaders have historically ransacked the country for their own gain, legislators have spoken openly on the radio about accepting bribes and oligarchs sit atop lucrative monopolies, paying few taxes. Transparency International ranks it among the most corrupt nations in the world.

But another story is rarely taught or acknowledged: The first people in the modern world to free themselves from slavery and create their own nation were forced to pay for their freedom yet again — in cash.

[lagatta]

Thanks so much for this, I've also sent the French version to friends here - one (who is not remotely Haitian or otherwise of African descent) has studied Haitian Creole, a language one hears every day, everywhere in Montréal.

Obviously, it's a tough read.

[fumobici]

What a basket case! Some cultures are just broken, maybe even irreparably. I learned a fair bit reading that but wanted to know more about its more recent history. Ensnaring poor countries in debt traps to rob them of economic autonomy is an old trick, one that the PRC is using wholesale at this very moment.

[bixaorellana]

I figured you'd be right on this, LaGatta!

And yes, a very tough read. There were some details at the beginning that I deliberately skipped.

Fumobici, I agree about want to know more. What is needed is an equally well-researched report delving into the country's economy from the time of Aristide's removal up to now.

The removal and kidnapping of Aristide is as shocking and morally abhorrent as anything else in that article.

[bixaorellana]

May 23, 2022 15:11:30 GMT fumobici said:

I learned a fair bit reading that but wanted to know more about its more recent history.

As I said earlier, yes, you are so right about the need to know more.

It appears that the NYTimes is giving out more:

Invade Haiti,Wall Street Urged.The U.S. Obliged.

Demanding Reparations, and Ending Up in Exile (re: Aristide)

I'm including articles from other sources in the hopes of expanding what we learned from the NYT article.

Haiti’s Troubled Path to Development (Council on Foreign Relations)

What's new (and what isn't) in the NYT's big Haiti story (The Racket)

Debt, Coups & Colonialism in Haiti: France & U.S. Urged to Pay Reparations for Destroying Nation (Democracy Now)

And for lagatta ~ A Story About Haitian History, in Haitian Creole (New York Times)

Please note: Any of the links above from the NYTimes are from the number they allow me, as a subscriber, to share. Thus, I'm not sure if those of you reading can share them again. However, directing anyone to this post will allow them to access the articles from here.

[tod2]

May 22, 2022 16:19:51 GMT bixaorellana said:

Corruption is the usual explanation, and not without reason: Haiti’s leaders have historically ransacked the country for their own gain, legislators have spoken openly on the radio about accepting bribes and oligarchs sit atop lucrative monopolies, paying few taxes. Transparency International ranks it among the most corrupt nations in the world.

I am so familiar with this sentence. Not many people know or are even interested in South Africa - the same way we are virtually oblivious of anything to do with South America. After many years of separating the white from the brown , it was an historic moment when the country became a place where everyone could cast his or her vote for the future. Little did the citizens realize they were being duped in a full on disaster management of the country's finances and that we could have had an Indian government from beyond our shores. Stupidity and greed are all around and the population is only waking up to the fact now. Is it too late for us? Can we somehow survive as a decent place to live?

[whatagain]

My wife spent one month in Haiti, in a canadian mission.
She brought ophtalmic equipmentvand trained the few local ophtalmos pkus she gave - free of course - consultations to the inhabitants.

She has never again seen such lesions and ilnesses in Belgium...

[bixaorellana]

Thanks, Huckle. I knew there were many Haitians in Florida, but had no idea the Haitian population in the whole US was that large.

Honestly, I don't get the chickens coming home to roost comment.

What a lovely thing for your wife to do, Whatagain, especially as it must have been quite distressing.
Back in the mid-'80s a couple I knew went to Haiti for vacation. This was around the time that there was a lot of interest in Haitian art and the country was promoted as a tourist destination. When they returned, they seemed reluctant to talk about the visit. Finally one of them said, "It's hard to enjoy having a drink at an outdoor café when you realize that people around you are selling their bodies in order to eat."

[bixaorellana]

Oh, thanks. I thought that might be what you meant, but since the article focused so much on the Haitians winding up in Cuba, I wasn't sure. Like Cuba has the resources to help them!

I started wondering if Haitians tried migrating to the Dominican Republic, which certainly seems easier. Yes, they do.
From Nov. of last year: dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2021/11/10/haitians-this-has-gotten-very-ugly/
From last week: www.telesurenglish.net/news/Joint-Operation-in-Santo-Domingo-Detains-385-Illegal-Haitians-20220519-0028.html