Haiti-Haitii

Philosophical Reflections for Mental Decolonization

Jean-Bertrand Aristide

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2015
• eBook ISBN:
  9781317258445
• Print ISBN:
  9781612050539
• Subtopic: Sociology

In Haiti - Haitii Jean-Bertrand Aristide combines the artistry of Swahili with the poetic incisiveness of his native Kreyol to produce an eloquent critique of colonialism and an affirmation of humanist principles. Aristide uses poetry, prose and proverbs to tell the epic story of Haiti, the world's first independent Black republic. He chronicles the brutality of the colonisers and the ways in which they attempted to dehumanise Haitians. Aristide illustrates how Haitians' 300-year journey to freedom has been guided by the African philosophy of Ubuntu, a world view that emphasises human solidarity. Today, Aristide writes, it is this same philosophy that can empower a new generation of Africans to resist neo-colonialism. This book is the inspiring inside story of the country which has both suffered in unimaginable ways and dared to dream of freedom. It will be essential reading for all those interested in the past, present and future of Haiti and the prospects for national liberation across the world in the 21st century.

PART ONE

A) Introduction

All earthquakes are earthquakes

But there is one that is unparalleled in bringing destruction.

January 12, 2010, in about 35 seconds,

An earthquake unlike any other earthquake turned

Haiti upside down in death, calamity,

Catastrophe, despair, screams and cadavers.

Suddenly several million victims

Were left homeless, without water, without food, without help.

One hundred thousand houses were destroyed, 200,000 others damaged.

The National Palace and the Cathedral of Port-au-Prince,

Like the majority of government buildings and churches, were devastated.

In the space of 35 seconds 1,350 schools were demolished,

Fifty hospitals destroyed, 90% of Leogane wiped out,

Forty-five percent of Jacmel plus 40% of Port-au-Prince flattened.

In the space of 35 seconds the country lost

More than 10 million American dollars, representing

More than 120% of the gross national product.

Sunday april 4, 2010, a powerful earthquake

Measuring 7.2 hit Mexico.

Results: 2 people died, 100 or so were injured.

And yet the earthquake that hit Haiti

Measured 7.0 and caused nearly 300,000 deaths.

Everywhere, oh, scores of people buried alive,

Smothered to death, torn to pieces, or crushed under cement.

As for the thousands of people gravely wounded,

Heartbreak, anguish, trauma, tears.

Doctors amputated legs or arms without anaesthesia.

This earthquake made television cameras

Across the world focus on Haiti.

Blacks like Whites, young and old

Everywhere suffered with the victims and, there and then,

Many hands joined in solidarity with Haiti.

A beautiful rose of thanks to every person

Who stood up to give birth to this solidarity.

In the face of such a tragedy, Whites who are good Whites

Suffered just like Blacks who are good Blacks.

Unfortunately behind this unprecedented catastrophe

There is a masked game of colonization.

While Whites and Blacks with sensitive hearts want to help Haiti,

The new colonists want to continue to use the country

To, before all else, defend their own interests.

For 400 years, who imposed slavery

In order to suck the country’s riches down to its bones? The colonists.

Slavery is a crime against humanity,

But have the victims found reparation? No.

From 1804 until today

Who continues to suck dry the sap of the country? The new colonists.

France owes Haiti more than 21 billion dollars,

But have the victims yet been paid this money? No.

Who orchestrated the military coup d’état in 1991,

Plus the presidential coup d’état kidnapping in 2004,

In order to bury the neo-liberal death plan deeper

In the entrails of Haiti? the new colonists.

This unprecedented catastrophe is neither super-natural,

Nor all-natural, because it is partly the result

Of a colonization that never completely ended.

Moreover, small minded people are about to fall into the trap of

New colonists who have pounced on this tragedy to

Hastily present themselves as the saviors of Haiti.

Long ago colonists trumpeted

That they were bringing civilization to the slaves.

Today, the new colonists choose to hide behind

A flag called the reconstruction of Haiti.

The reconstruction of Haiti! Yes, it is an obligation.

An obligation of the children of the country and of foreigners indebted to Haiti.

This reconstruction forces us to look at where we came from

In order to prepare the foundation of a beautiful new Haiti.

The harder the winds of mental decolonization blow,

Smaller are the chances that this reconstruction will drown in a pool of shame.

Under the flag of dignity there should be no confusion between

Manifestations of solidarity and the beggars’ bowl.

The beggars’ bowl hung around the country’s neck

Is part of the wider masked plot for colonization.

Unfortunately the country has a restavèk president

Wandering about, asking for charity with no dignity —

Against the will of the majority of the children of Haiti.

For more than 200 years the super powers

Have been saying that they have given Haiti millions in charity.

The millions loaned to Haiti at exorbitant interest rates

Are passed off as international aid or charity.

When much of this money was used to buy powerful weapons

For an army of 7,000 soldiers that consumed

Forty percent of the national budget, it seemed normal in

A country with 1.5 doctors for every 11,000 residents.

In reality a few examples are enough to demonstrate clearly

That this money is not there to serve the interest of the majority:

1. Almost half of the money that Haiti owes to foreign banks

Is money that was borrowed before the 1990 election.

2. In 1991, the World Bank agreed

To lend Haiti 37 million dollars but

It was only 6 days before the 1991 coup d’état that

The Bank released 30 of this 37 million.

Thinking people ought to ask why

Was it only 6 days before the coup d’état

That the World Bank decided to release that money?

Because at the time, the Lavalas government

Was going to spend that money in the interest of the people

The Bank held on to it in order to give to the putschists for them

To crush the people and squander with their allies.

Likewise we well understand why

The World Bank loaned

Jean-Claude duvalier’s government, listen carefully,

Two hundred and fifty-six million dollars plus another 158 million

That went to the military government that

The new colonists put in place after 1986.

3. After the december 16, 1990 election,

The Inter-American Development Bank agreed to lend the country of Haiti

Only 12 million American dollars.

But it’s the same Inter-American Development Bank that loaned

The military government 110 million dollars

Before the ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Foreword
• Part One
• Part Two