Dear Editor,

The crisis in Haiti is synonymous with prolonged turmoil, political instability, militancy, and flagrant corruption.

It was formerly known as Saint Domingue among French occupiers, popularised as the “Pearl of Antilles” due to its burgeoning and intensely lucrative agricultural sector, especially sugar cane production.

The Haitian Revolution, 1791-1804, was a magnanimous feat of enslaved, persecuted, and marginalised blacks who fought tirelessly to realise their innate dream of freedom. And although Haiti is the first Caribbean colony to claim independence from its coloniser, France, it has visibly lost direction.

In the aftermath of the revolution, Haiti was a nation idolised by leaders and nations as an aspiring republic, a nation destined to progress under the guidance of its pioneers and forefathers. It was a glaring beacon of abolition, self-determination, and racial equality.

For several reasons, the social and economic development of the country was jeopardised by governance issues and fragility. According to the latest World Bank reports, Haiti ranks 163 out of 191 countries on the Human Development Index (HDI). The country once considered a jewel is now the poorest country in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Over a four-year period the economy has steadily contracted: 1.7 per cent in 2019; 3.3 per cent in 2020; 1.8 per cent in 2021; and 1.7 per cent in 2022, according to a World Bank report. Further, current estimates suggest the poverty rate stands at 87 per cent.

Who could ever conceive that Haiti would have met such a fate when founded in the hardest of circumstances? The baffling circumstances in Haiti require extraordinary leadership and collaborative efforts, as Haiti has failed to circumvent its persistent nuisances.

There is a discernible need to reassign the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti [MINUSTAH] working in tandem with Brazilian Forces. This yielded astounding success in addressing the persistent onslaught on its people and resources despite its shortcomings.

Michael Dziedzic and Robert M Perito, in their report titled ‘Haiti: Confronting the Gangs of Port-au-Prince’, noted The United States Institute of Peace survey which stated that ‘’67 per cent of those polled credited the UN mission for the improvement in their security situation’’. Further, it said, ‘’The US State Department’s Haiti Stabilization Initiative (HSI) in November 2007 found that 98 per cent of the residents of Cité Soleil, the epicentre of Haiti’s gang war, felt safer than they had six months earlier, and 85 per cent reported that they could conduct their daily activities without fear of intimidation or extortion. Kidnappings have dropped below 20 per cent of their previous levels. Sentiment toward MINUSTAH has improved dramatically as a result of the crackdown on gangs.’’

Despite attempts by other multinational forces, Brazilian military forces truly transformed the criminal landscape in Haiti during its mission. A report co-published by the Brazilian Armed Forces in 2017 stated that MINUSTAH had become “a global reference” for peacekeeping missions. Former force commander Floriano Peixoto wrote that Brazil’s 13-year military presence in Haiti could be, “without a doubt, considered a very successful epic”.

It is hoped that Brazilian President Lula da Silva will reconsider his stance on Haiti once the UN revises policies surrounding controversial issues of the past which have terribly dampened its impetus to recommence its operations in Haiti.

Critically, the onus is on Haitians to radically alter their mindset to not remain caged birds with illusionary bars.

Tara Henry

henry.tara42@gmail.com