January 26, 2009
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Vision 2053: A Nationalistic Approach of the Haitian Dilemma
Previously published in Le Floridien, 16 – 31décembre 2002
By Dr. Harry Hans Francois PhD., N.D., Dip- CFC., LMHC.
We are in September 2002, and my homeland, Haiti, seems to live
the harshest socioeconomic times, perhaps ever experienced in
its long history (199 years) of freedom. Of course, there are no
clear statistical records available to support my daring
opinion. Perhaps, the few statistical numbers held by the United
Nations (UN) and Organization of the American States (OAS) might
be able to shed the lights on this complex and present dilemma
actually facing Haiti, if one is concerned about numbers.
In the course of investigating this situation and, at the same
time, attempt to come up with some possible objective approaches
to this present and miserable context, which, to me, are clearly
produced by the various ineffective, commercial, and
governmental policies of yesteryears, the opinions of the
experts vividly vary. They seem to range from cultural fatalism,
perennial empty governmental short-term projects to cynical
social intolerance that Haitians tend to hold in for each other
within and/or outside Haiti _ clearly a conglomeration of pseudo
social class desiderata. Haitians proudly and feverishly behold
the torch of the “First Black Republic of the New World”, and
shamefully earned the title of the “Poorest Country per income
per capita in the entire Western Hemisphere.” These being said
and true, perhaps in this year 2003 coming, the time has come
for Haitians to question themselves about the errors of the past
in order to put in perspective some objective policies for their
own people.
At first, Haitians ought to initiate the praxis of social
tolerance, which is the willingness and determination to accept,
respect, and bargain for each other regardless of the societal
perceptions and social class belongings. Haitians must realize
that Haiti is just a small, but important part of the
interdependent commercial societies of the world. The falling of
the East in 1989 and its consequences on international trades
and politics clearly support this statement. It also means for
Haitians to redefine their individual (social) identity as a
group. In 2003, a letdown in the Haitian cultural patrimony is
obvious and on going – a total decadence of social values.
Sociologically speaking, they have failed to put together some
solid institutions and infrastructures – be it in public and
private sectors in order to more or less satisfy the needs of
the masses and those of other various segments of the country.
Democracy, whatever form and/or geographical context it is, can
only be partially guaranteed with these entities being present
because they, in return, create some kinds of balanced
employment, social harmony, basic education and health care
system for the entire population. The designing and implantation
of policies centered on democratic guidelines will probably
decrease many vicious attitudes among our fellow citizens, i.e.
parasitism, resentment toward neighbors, social tension, various
forms of deification, and the probability of future
“dechouquages” and/or civil upheavals. These tendencies are
somewhat standardized expectations for the citizens of almost
every respectable society of this contemporary world. The
failure and/or the lack of these basic policies in Haiti,
although pathological, appear to fuel the concept of cultural
fatalism that has been institutionalized for about 199 years of
independence in my country.
When Haitians are being questioned about the future of their
homeland, they oftentimes express shame, angst and feelings of
no hope. “Not one of these so-called leaders will help the
country”, many of them argue. To address these problems, we
ought to engage ourselves in serious dialectic dialogues about
our own fallacies. Obviously, monologues oftentimes do not help
out due to the fact that the last 199 years of these kinds of
dynamics have only led us to the practice of
self-discrimination, surely the creation of a pseudo and/or
zombified intellectual class, the flight to overseas for the
lucky ones, and finally the sentiment of despair for the
dispossessed and to those unable to flee the country. The year
2003 ought to be the first year of the many future years of
reconciliation and empathy toward each other. Let us be moderate
and humble to each other in order to regain the pride and morals
of yesteryears that are so much needed in order to rebuild
Haiti.
Secondly, Haitians need to clean their own house, especially in
business dealings. I strongly believe that my fellow countrymen,
living in my homeland and abroad, can do it together. They ought
to put together their heads and souls and now aim at one goal. A
fifty (50) year-project can be formulated as thus:
“Beautification and Development of Haiti”. Haitians are indeed
misrepresenting themselves when they refer their problems of
misconception of taxes, mischief, pseudo social programming and
mismanagement of governmental policies to the people next-door
and/or the West while the possible solutions can indeed be found
at home.
The state poverty of Haiti cannot only be explained by the
West’s fault. In that sense, the psychosocial expression used
for such misrepresentation of problems seems to be the same for
every minority ethnic and irresponsible group – that of “blaming
others, mainly the outsiders for their sociopolitical
fallacies”. At home, the failure of successive governmental
policies of yesteryears to design and/or implement serious and
long term programs in irrigation, health, technical education,
roads building, economy and good government business dealing
policies appears to be among the causes, and ought to be
addressed as soon as possible.
Haitians need to sit down with each other and discuss a 50 year-
project incorporating all the components that I have cited
before. My homeland is full of rivers and lake water that are
going awash to the sea/oceans on a daily basis. Haitian
policymakers can surely use these available natural resources
(water) to build various small electrical and agricultural
plants.
The capital of my homeland is loaded with trash and dead pieces
of metal. These piles of trash can be used in various recycling
ventures such as paper goods and electricity. Haitian
policymakers can perhaps use these dead pieces of metal found
all over the streets of Port-au-Prince to build one or two
metallurgical plants. The implementation of the last two parts
of the project, as part of the 50 year-plan, sounds very
ambitious and even daring. Yet, they will surely help in the
cleaning of the capital and also in the alleviation of the
failing health system.
In economy, Haitians definitely can do better. They ought to get
themselves involved in the cultivation and exportation business
in order to reduce the consequences of dollar importation. If
done properly, it would be seen as a partial solution of the
dollar-gourdes flip-flopping market. Consequently, more they
import from overseas, more US currency they will need to fulfill
their daily exchanges. This is indeed true for every country in
the world.
The exportation of coffee, corn, limes, bananas, cacao, brut
sugar, mango, cherry, and rhum, very much demanded by US
businessmen, can hugely help in decreasing the demand of dollars
by the Haitian consumers and businessmen because such dealings
will bring them in instead of taking them away. The opposite
also stands true as Haitians now engage themselves in importing
bananas, sugar, iron bar, cement, flour, and rice etc. to
satisfy their daily needs. With this type of economic
approaches, Haitians will constantly be desperate for dollars in
order to satisfy their needs. Either way, they must reengage
themselves in the business of agriculture. Both the state of
Haiti and the farmers can do it together with respect to each
other.
It is also my personal belief that many money transfer companies
such as Hatrexco, Bobby Express, Cam, Unitransfer, etc can
financially lend their hands to the economy of Haiti. They can
definitely do their transactions directly through the State Bank
of Haiti. In return, the state bank will have some flows of
dollars rolling through its system on a daily basis. Actually,
these companies have become part of the problem by the way they
do business, which is keeping almost everything they earn for
themselves. They can surely adopt and/or participate in
socio-educative projects in partnership with some schools -- be
it public or private. Society, as a whole, will benefit from
such venture projects, if they are well implemented.
The State of Haiti quickly ought to overturn this primitive way
of collective its dues and taxes by cash. Eliminating the method
of paying by cash for services rendered and taxation must be
definitely voided in this 21st century. It only
encourages and enriches the pockets of the “magouilleurs” and
some of the impudent directors _ surely not much money goes into
the coffers of the state. A money order, personal and teller
check sold by a state bank and/or its outlets will simplify the
problem and put the state back in charge of its receivable
accounts. The leisure currently held by directors to unblock
funds must be rethought. Also a system of fixed/specified
tariffs and special service taxes must me established not only
for all goods exported and imported but also all the services
provided by the state. Furthermore, people of a particular
region should be able to receive their services at their own
locality instead of the capital, which would facilitate services
and open the road to decentralization. These steps being taken,
the city of Port au Prince will be less congested, and perhaps
will become little by little decriminalized.
Lastly, the government of Haiti can now institute a “money order
and teller check” only payable to the administration concerned
for service rendered instead of cash. As thus, the civic,
academic, and social education of the Haitians will somehow
begin. Posthumously, I dream of a day that Haitian will
understand, empathize, and accept each other as human beings,
and also as sons and daughters of one land. Then, the West will
begin to respect them, and our ancestors, more especially King
Henry Christophe – one of the great Haitian leaders and
economists – will smile from their graves......
Previously published in Le Floridien, 16 – 31décembre 2002
