Wyclef Jean and Ambassador White's Misguided Proposal: Haiti Deserves Better Than Gang Leaders
Imagine coming across a headline on your social media feed: "The Rock and Beyonce suggest MS-13 leadership should govern LA to fight crime!" Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? Yet, this is essentially what Wyclef Jean and former Ambassador Pamela White are proposing for Haiti by endorsing gang leaders Jimmy "BBQ" Cherizier and Guy Philippe as potential solutions to Haiti's political crisis.
To grasp Mr. Jean and Ms. White's cynicism, we must examine the context of the crisis: a confluence of politicians and business interests arming young men to ensure their elections and protect their businesses. This system, fueled by drug, human, and arms trafficking, has reached a boiling point. Mr. Philippe and Cherizier have been and continue to be central actors in that narrative.
Mr. Jean and particularly Ms. White, with her background as a former US Ambassador to Haiti, are well aware of these two notorious leaders. Guy Philippe admitted to using his police authority to facilitate drug shipments and receive hefty bribes. As a result, he was convicted and recently finished serving six of a nine-year sentence in US prison for laundering drug money to protect traffickers.
Similarly, Mr. Cherizier is coordinating several gangs implicated in appalling violence and the most horrific acts. These include the 2018 La Saline massacre, with over 71 people killed and 400 homes torched, the 2017 Grande Ravine massacre, resulting in at least nine deaths, and the 2019 Bel Air massacre. These actions have led to US sanctions against Cherizier and his associates. Yet, despite proclaiming revolutionary intentions, his gang's activities in kidnappings, gang rapes, and murders continue unabated, victimizing those he purports to want to represent.
Mr. Jean and Amb. White's Flawed Proposal and its Consequences
Mr. Jean and Ms. White's suggestion to turn the country's leadership over to these criminals is offensive. Their attempt to normalize gang leaders as natural political leaders is not just troubling, it is morally reprehensible and lays waste to the rule-based society that decent people in Haiti want. Their proposal dismisses the importance of accountability and justice, belittles the suffering of victims, and favors political convenience over ethical and legal norms. Their proposal poses a severe risk to Haiti and sets a problematic precedent for resolving societal conflicts with criminals.
Furthermore, such a proposal threatens Haiti's long-term stability. Legitimizing criminals as political actors erodes public trust, hinders the rule of law, and perpetuates violence and impunity. Haiti needs genuine leadership committed to justice, transparency, and the well-being of Haitians, not those who have actively undermined these principles.
Another Approach to Dealing with Entrenched Criminal Actors
Addressing hardened criminals like Philippe and Cherizier requires a balanced approach that includes "carrot and stick." Haiti's political transition and security reforms should offer gang members a clear choice: change their ways, disarm, admit wrongdoing, and reintegrate into society, or face consequences ranging from imprisonment to more severe measures. The strategy must offer redemption while ensuring justice.
Integrating these individuals without a clear framework for accountability and reform weakens Haiti. Effective leadership must prioritize the rule of law, justice, and the well-being of all citizens, not appeasement of those who have disregarded and flouted these principles.
Haitians in Haiti and abroad must reject Mr. Jean and Ms. White's morally indefensible suggestions and focus on building a future for Haiti rooted in justice, accountability, and genuine representation of its people.