By: Alejandro Guevara Onofre
Megalomaniacal Despots
At the beginning of 1986, Haiti’s dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier, also known as “Baby Doc”, and First Lady Michele Bennet were overthrown by Henri Namphy. Haiti’s 1971-1986 military dictatorship had been one of the most brutal anti-democratic governments in Latin America. Meanwhile, thousands of political dissidents and intellectuals were killed. By that time, the Duvalier family had deposited over $ 150 million into special accounts in abroad. In May 1980, Jean-Claude, Francois Duvalier’s son, and Michele had one of the most lavish weddings in the world (cost about $3 million).
Following the death of Francois Duvalier, also known as “Papa Doc”, Jean-Claude came to power in the early 1970s. Certainly the Duvaliers became a dynasty. During his years as the country’s most powerful figure, Papa Doc had strong links with several African nations. Also during that period, more than 30,000 people were assassinated by Tonton Macoutes, a personal police.
Haiti’s dictator Francois Duvalier had inspired the best-selling 1968 novel “The Comedians” and the film of the same name directed Peter Glenville, and starring Richard Burton, Alec Guinness and the South African-born Zakes Mokae.
On February 7, 1986, after the coup d’ etat against Baby Doc and Michele Bennett, the new regime was welcomed by a crowd of people, including children and teenagers. Twenty-two years on, why are things so bad on the Island? What really happened in Haiti? Few things have changed since February 1986.
Extreme Poverty
While you are reading this article, several hundred thousand children will go to bed without food. Meanwhile, more than eight million people does not have access to fresh water, electricity, and health care. Over half of the Island’s GDP is provided by remittances and international aid. By 2008 this Caribbean nation — where there are approximately 642 people per square kilometer– received $ 1.8 billion from its citizens who live in America, Canada, Europe and the Dominican Republic. It also received over 800 million in US aid from 1994 to 2006, one of the highest in the world’s developing countries. On the other side, between 1986 and 2005 the new dictators and warlords were widely condemned by international organizations. Why? Over 5,000 people were killed for political reasons, and thousands fled the Island.
Haiti – Latin America’s Worst Education System
Despite being one of the first independent republics in history, Haiti, one of the smallest nations in the Western Hemisphere, has become an impoverished nation since the mid-1800s. Why? Without a doubt the key issue is the poor state of the Island’s education. Unfortunately, it has the worst education system in the Americas, from Alaska to Patagonia. The black republic has one of the highest illiterate rates in the world: Over 80 percent of the country’s people. Most children – more than 70 percent– don’t go to schools. But after January 12, the situation has become chaotic. In Port-au-Prince, a host of schools have been destroyed. Several school children have died. In many countries of the Third World, the poor education is an open door to the dictatorships, narcotraffic, and terrorism.
Road to Democracy
The World Bank, the United Nations and the American government must take stronger actions to press this country to improve its education system. They should also provide additional support to the reconstruction of the infrastructure: from schools to universities. If the International Community, from the UN to America, want to improve living conditions in Haiti they must support the education of future generations. Because of the poor education, the Caribbean country is losing its best and most intelligent young people. The education system must be one of the priorities in the reconstruction of Haiti, a country where the military have had immense influence and power. Without education, there is no future for the Island.
Alejandro Guevara Onofre: Freelance writer. Alejandro is author of a host of articles/essays about over 220 countries and dependencies (and American States as well), from ecology, history, tourism and national heroes to Olympic sports, foreign relations, and wildlife. In addition, he has published some books on women’s rights, among them “History of the Women in America” and “Famous Americans.”
