20386: Marina: PM Patterson should not take in Aristide (FWD) (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Marina <marinawus@yahoo.com>

Corbetters:

Please find attached a letter posted on the Caricom
Website by a concerned Haitian-American
*********


I believe there should be a plan of action for Haiti
and it should include all the key players, including
Haitian-Americans. However, I do not believe PM
Patterson's recent decision to admit Aristide into
Jamaica for 2 months is in the best interest of
Haiti-nor will it get PM Patterson the support of
Haitian-Americans--, this for the following reasons:

1. Aristide and Guy Philippe are two sides of the same
coin. They are equally corrupt and violent. They come
from a long tradition (that they did not invent) of
pillaging the Haitian coffers to their own ends--this
because of the lack of a true state in Haiti.
Supporting Aristide IS NOT supporting Haiti.

2. Haitian-Americans understand that support for
corrupt regimes is a fortuitous short-term bandaid.

3. If PM Patterson and the CARICOM are truly friends
of Haiti, they should contribute with economic
solutions and trouble-shooting, not the cult of
personality of Aristide. Haitians and
Haitian-Americans have learned their lesson on that
score and it is sad to see Caribbean leaders holding
fast to a messianic vision of leadership that has only
brought the Haitian people more grief, more hunger and
more misery under Aristide's 10-year tenure.

4. PM Patterson is extremely naive if he actually
believes that Aristide will not put fuel to fire while
in Jamaica for 2 whole months. Aristide has proven
that he only cares about his pocket and his personal
well-being. If he had any decency as a leader and any
love for his country, he would not have encouraged the
Chimeres to destroy what little infrastructure the
country has left in the aftermath of his exile. He
would also have allowed the country to move on and
begin focusing on economic and policy solutions with
international stakeholders rather than childishly
claiming that he was "kidnapped". All of this
precedent proves that Aristide will use both the money
he stole form the Haitian people and his Caribbean
connections to further paralyze the country while in
Jamaica.

5. I implore you, PM Patterson (and indirectly
CARICOM) to not allow yourself to be manipulated but
to instead help Haiti in its much needed attempt to
pick up the pieces and move on.

With all trust that CARICOM will do the right thing in
its meeting at the end of the month,

Concerned Haitian-American Brooklyn, NY
Message posted by Concerned Haitian-American
(simbi100@yahoo.com) on 14-Mar-2004
++++++++++++++++++

Marina


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