February 7th
Jean Charles
Thanks’ God we Have February 7th!
By Jean H Charles
The Republic of Haiti has several pivotal dates that shape its history and national identity: the day of independence celebrated on January 1st, the battle of Vertieres remembered on November 18, and the creation of the National flag commemorated on May 18.
Luckily, we have February 7th, the date the Haitian people boot out the Duvalier regime from the seat of power after 33 years of dictatorship.
The Haitian people have a capacity to endure injustice for a long time. It took them four centuries (400 years) to get rid of the white colon that kept them in slavery in an inhuman and abject condition. And yet they were the first and the last one to undertake such epic stories. It took them thirty-three (33) years to get rid of the Duvalier and another thirty (30) years of endurance of illiberal governments that rest on corruption, ill governance and plain theft of public assets.
Thank God February 7 is at the horizon. Will it be more of the same! Or this time will the Haitian people rise up and boot out the gangsters and the politicians that sustain them. A wind of delivery is blowing all over the world: in Iran the people are rising up against the Komani that govern the country for the last thirty year. In Venezuela the arrestation of Maduro by the Americans on charge of exporting cocaine to the United States gives the Venezuelans to bring about regime change. In Bulgaria the Gen Z generation forced the Prime Minister to resign after weeks of street protest to complain about corruption and ill government.
President Jovenel Moise did not care to respect the fatidic date of February 7th nature and the gods that protect Haiti manifest their discontent. In a month, the CPT that did not advance democracy for one iota in the country will have to make a decision to quit or to stay at their own peril.
Visiting Haiti recently I had the opportunity to watch de visu the inability of those in control of the country to make the least good decision for the people of Haiti. The road from Cape Haitian to the town of Grand River a portion of which is the highway 3 linking Port au Prince to Cape Haitian in a state of a middle age that date 30 years in such disrepair.
Yet the country is capable of returning to the state of glory of the colonial time when it was dubbed the pearl of the Antilles. A benevolent government would organize the peasants into cooperative mode to produce the fruits of season for the great markets of London, Paris or New York. Oranges in winter (Grand River in its rural county of Bonamy has the best oranges of the world,) Soursop and cherimoya in the spring, mangoes, apricot and in the summer (Haiti has the best mango- (mango Francis) in the whole world) Avocados and quinoa in autumn.
In its mountain after mountain Haiti can become the king of lumber of the world with mahogany and cedar forest that transform Haiti into an instrument of wealth traded on Wall Street bringing more profits for the Pension Fund of the World than all the gimmick of bitcoins.
Haiti betting on its epic history, its mountains and its cultural heritage of Middle Ages feast of the saints can build a touristic path that equal Bali in Indonesia.
As a matter of fact, travel connoisseurs indicate that there are four lost paradises on earth: Kerala in India, Bali in Indonesia, Hawaii in the Pacific, and Haiti in the West Indies.
Yet the Haitian politicians insist on keeping Haiti poor and desperate with the majority of its people jumping ships to find a more pleasant place to grow their children.
February 7th is advancing at great speed, will we have a government at the measure of Haiti past leaders such as Toussaint Louverture, Jean Jacques Dessalines and Henry Christophe!
May St Chabin the saint of thousands of miracles has a compassionate eye for Haiti that this February 7th will be a veritable turn for the best for a country that suffers ignominy for the past 500 years?
Jean Hervé Charles LLB, MSW JD was a presidential candidate in the elections of 2016 in Haiti. He can be reached at jeanhc...@aol.com cell 646 248 1171
Jean Charles
By Jean H. Charles
The Republic of Haiti has several pivotal dates that shape its history and national identity: Independence Day, celebrated on January 1st; the Battle of Vertières, commemorated on November 18th; and the creation of the national flag, observed on May 18th.
Fortunately, we also have February 7th—the date on which the Haitian people forced the Duvalier regime out of power after thirty-three years of dictatorship.
The Haitian people have an extraordinary capacity to endure injustice for long periods of time. It took them four centuries (400 years) to rid themselves of the white colonizers who held them in slavery under inhuman and degrading conditions. And yet, they were the first—and the only—people to accomplish such an epic feat. It then took thirty-three (33) years to overthrow the Duvalier dictatorship, followed by another thirty (30) years of enduring illiberal governments marked by corruption, poor governance, and the blatant theft of public assets.
Thank God February 7th is once again on the horizon. Will it be more of the same? Or will the Haitian people finally rise up and drive out the gangsters—and the politicians who sustain them?
A wind of hope is blowing across the world:
- In Iran, people are rising up against the Khomeinist regime that has governed the country for over thirty years.
- In Venezuela, the arrest warrant issued against Nicolás Maduro by the United States on charges of cocaine trafficking has opened the door for Venezuelans to envision regime change.
- In Bulgaria, Generation Z forced the prime minister to resign after weeks of street protests against corruption and poor governance.
President Jovenel Moïse disregarded the fateful date of February 7th; yet nature—and the gods who protect Haiti—have expressed their discontent. Within a month, the CPT, which has not advanced democracy by even one iota, will be forced to decide whether to step aside or remain in power at its own peril.
During a recent visit to Haiti, I had the opportunity to witness de visu the inability of those in control to make even the most basic decisions in the interest of the people. The road from Cap-Haitian to the town of Grande-Rivière—part of National Route 3 linking Port-au-Prince to Cap-Haitian—is in a medieval state of disrepair, reflecting more than thirty years of neglect.
And yet, Haiti is fully capable of returning to the glory of its colonial era, when it was known as the “Pearl of the Antilles.” A benevolent government could organize peasants into cooperatives to produce seasonal fruits for major markets in London, Paris, and New York: oranges in winter (Grande-Rivière, particularly the rural area of Bonamy, produces some of the best oranges in the world); soursop and cherimoya in spring; mangoes, apricots, and passion fruit in summer (Haiti produces the world-renowned Francis mango); and avocados and quinoa in autumn.
With its mountain ranges, Haiti could become a global leader in lumber production through sustainably managed mahogany and cedar forests—turning natural wealth into assets traded on Wall Street and yielding greater returns for global pension funds than speculative fads like cryptocurrency.
By capitalizing on its epic history, dramatic landscapes, and rich cultural heritage—including medieval-style religious festivals—Haiti could develop a tourism industry rivaling Bali in Indonesia. In fact, seasoned travelers often say there are only four lost paradises on Earth: Kerala in India, Bali in Indonesia, Hawaii in the Pacific, and Haiti in the West Indies.
Yet Haitian politicians persist in keeping the country poor and desperate, forcing much of its population to flee by boat in search of a safer and more dignified future for their children.
February 7th is approaching rapidly. Will Haiti finally have a government worthy of its past leaders—Toussaint Louverture, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, and Henry Christophe?
May Saint Charbel, the saint of a thousand miracles, look compassionately upon Haiti, and may this February 7th mark a true turning point for a nation that has endured indignity for more than five hundred years.
Jean Hervé Charles, LLB, MSW, JD, was a presidential candidate in Haiti’s 2016 elections. He can be reached at jeanhc...@aol.com or by phone at (646) 248-1171