We must be thankful to those historians, social commentators and journalists who strive relentlessly to remind us of the true Haitian story, and of Haiti's tremendous contribution, by dint of its monumental revolution of more than 200 years ago, to the freedom movement in the Caribbean and the Americas.

Historians tell us that following the triumph of the American Revolution of the 1770s which booted the British and led to the formation of the United States of America, Haiti was the first independent nation in the Americas. It is the only country in recorded human history to have gained independence as a direct result of a successful slave rebellion.

The Haitian Revolution, which ended institutional slavery in that country and removed the yoke of French colonial rule, was an inspiration for those black slaves fighting for their freedom in Jamaica, the Caribbean and the wider world. It quickened the pace of the movement towards abolition of slavery -- eventually achieved in British-controlled territories in the 1830s.

In the wider Americas, the Haitian Revolution helped to inspire the Bolivarian movement that overthrew Spanish colonial rule in South and Central America. More than that, the independent Haitian state provided Simon Bolivar -- who had earlier sought refuge and aid in Jamaica -- with military and other assistance which enabled the maintenance of the Latin American liberation struggle.

On the evidence of history, all ex-slave and ex-colonised societies owe Haiti.

But Haiti hasn't benefited in material terms from its glorious contribution to humanity. Rather, it has suffered. It is to the eternal shame of the western powers -- not least France, Britain and the United States -- that over the last 200 years, the Haitian people have been outrageously victimised and punished. Vulgar hegemonic politics and plain thievery practised by the major powers stripped the Haitian treasury and helped to render endemic, a level of poverty, under-development, corrupt and inept governance that is many times worse than in neighbouring countries.

Perfidy on the part of superficially perceived benefactors have continued to modern times, perhaps best exemplified by the abduction and exiling of the constitutionally elected president Jean Bertrand Aristide in 2004.

We mustn't fool ourselves. Before the terrible earthquake of last Tuesday, Haiti was already in ruins. The quake that left tens of thousands dead and millions without food, water and shelter simply flattened the ruins.

It's with that in mind that even as the world seeks to provide food, water, shelter, and succour, it must also begin to view the earthquake devastation as an opportunity to join with the Haitian people in building their country. Not the Haiti before the earthquake. But a Haiti, free and thriving, as we suspect was visualised by Toussaint L'Ouverture and his companions 200-plus years ago.

The entire world, including Haiti's Caribbean neighbours, should pledge to the realisation of this vision. It will require many billions of dollars and huge doses of righteous political will. We speak, in relative terms, of the type of commitment that led to the rebuilding of Europe and Japan following World War Two, 75 years ago.

In line with its historic role, it is the United States which must lead the way. President Barack Obama, the first black man to lead the United States -- guided by an established progressive agenda -- is, we believe, the right man at the right time in the right place.

Will he be able to convince the movers and shakers in Washington as well as the American people of the responsibility to do right by Haiti? Will Mr Obama be able to gather support for the saving of Haiti without his country falling prey to the traditional hegemonism which has caused so much damage in the past? We wait and hope.

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