Haitian Diaspora Struggles for Unity
I will never get tired of saying that the Haitian diaspora has the potential to play a significant role in shaping Haiti's future. Unfortunately, its divisions and conflicting priorities are hindering progress toward this goal. Currently, Haiti is facing the most serious security challenge since the nation’s founding with widespread kidnapping for ransom, raping, and killing by gangs. According to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, there were 531 deaths, 300 injuries, and 277 kidnappings in gang-related incidents from January to mid-March.
The Haitian government has been unable to effectively tackle this crisis, leading many to conclude that the tenure of De Facto Prime Minister Ariel Henry and his administration has been a failure.
The diaspora has been just as ineffective. We are as divided as Haitians in Haiti with some members prioritizing political power while others prioritizing security. Although achieving elections and democratic governance is the ultimate goal, security remains on the critical path.
President Biden is expected to meet with Prime Minister Trudeau today and the Haitian diaspora in Canada has already started protesting. Their demands are for Canada and the US to commit to helping Haiti and working with Haitians to end the insecurity. They also want the US and Canada to stop supporting the current prime minister, Henry. However, it's unclear who would replace him if he were to step down.
Haitians have raised several other concerns. One is the fact that unlike Haiti Ukraine is getting all the international support it wants. However, there are some important differences between the two situations. Unlike Haitians, Ukrainians want and ask for international involvement to help them in their fight. Also, Ukrainian armed forces are fighting on the frontline, and they are consistent in their ask to the international community: more advanced weapons to fight the Russians. In contrast, we are divided across all areas of society. Many of us do not want international help and even accuse the US and Canada of arming the gangs. Some of us go further and allege that the gangs are part of a well-designed US plan to steal Haiti’s resources.
Indeed, whether we are living inside or outside of Haiti, the historical divisions that have plagued us have been consistent across all spheres of society –political, economic, cultural, and even regional. In that context, it's hard to see a united way forward but we must find one.
The current government holds significant responsibility for the ongoing crises in the country, and it must take action to address them. The creation of gangs to eliminate competition and gain political power and oligarchic control has been a tactic employed by previous governments, politicians, and the economic elite. However, this strategy has now led to the widespread growth of gangs as a profitable and appealing industry, particularly for young people who were already prone to criminal behaviors. They have been able to attract those who are living witnesses of generations of social marginalization including poverty and discrimination.
During an interview with Radio Sans Fin (RSF), Ms. Emmelie Prophète Milcé, the interim minister of Justice and public security, acknowledged the government's inability to take action, which was both sad and upsetting to witness. She admitted that she would not travel by land to the south of Haiti through Martissant, as that area is under the control of gangs. As I listened to the minister of justice, it became apparent that the government may not be willing to admit it, but the situation is beyond them. They lack a clear strategy to address the crises but for once, they are telling the truth when they say they cannot handle the gangs.
Unfortunately, those who seek to replace the current government have not offered a clear plan or demonstrated the necessary skills to govern effectively. Criticizing the current government and demanding change without proposing a viable alternative is insufficient. Instead, many political leaders use the rhetoric of a "conspiracy" or "enemy" to distract from internal problems or to gain political leverage. While it is true that there are external factors affecting Haiti, these leaders do not bother presenting concrete evidence nor bother to offer any strategy to counter it. Indeed, it simply feeds into the broader distrust.
Effective governance requires a thorough understanding of complex socio-political and economic issues and the ability to execute practical solutions. While groups such as the Montana Accord or Pitit Dessalines political party had great ideas, they lacked a concrete plan to address the country's security challenges and were hindered by overconfidence. Consequently, this left political observers wondering whether replacing the current government would lead to further instability and uncertainty.
The distrust among Haitians is very deep, and the government's trust deficit with the people is even more significant. Although it might seem strange – and counterintuitive, the current crisis presents an opportunity for the diaspora to get involved and work with the government to find creative solutions to the country's security and economic challenges. To build trust, I laid out five strategies in my recent op-ed piece in Ayibopost to move toward that goal.
We need to focus on the people's needs and be willing to compromise. This means working together and putting aside personal political interests for the common good.