28088: Hermantin(News)Haiti waits (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Posted on Thu, Mar. 09, 2006


DEMOCRACY
Haiti waits

BY REV. THOMAS WENSKI


Twenty years have passed since the end of the Duvalier dictatorships, 15 years 
since Haiti saw its first truly democratic election. But today Haiti still 
awaits a functioning government. The Haitian proverb, Ki mele pis grangou chen 
-- What concern is it to the flea that the dog is hungry? -- accurately 
describes the failure of Haiti's political class to live up to the aspirations 
of the Haitian people for democracy. Hopefully, last month's presidential 
election signals the dawning of a new day.

In a display of courage that parallels the courage of the Iraqis in their 
recent elections, the Haitian people voted to elect a new president. They 
deserve our admiration. They have refused to give up -- either on themselves or 
on the promise of democracy. In spite of insecurity and other obstacles, there 
was a surprisingly substantial turnout; and, despite a few bumps along the 
road, a president was decisively elected.

Runoff for Parliament

If Haiti is to overcome two centuries of despotic misrule, a successful runoff 
election, scheduled later this month for members of Parliament's two houses, 
will be crucial.

The challenges ahead are enormous and will require the cooperation of all 
sectors of Haitian society. The president, members of the legislature and the 
new prime minister when installed must immediately move to bring about 
significant and early improvements in Haitians' standard of living. This is 
best accomplished by seeking the active participation of political parties, the 
private sector, academia, the many vibrant organizations of civil society, the 
Haitian diaspora and Haiti's numerous friends throughout the world.

The Catholic Church in Haiti will continue to fulfill its mission of fostering 
unity, peace and reconciliation. Statements of Haitian bishops in recent years 
and the Holy Father's 2006 Lenten Message, which addresses development, offer 
sage counsel to those who wish to work so that Haiti can offer a better future 
to its citizens. ''Those who act according to the logic of the Gospel,'' Pope 
Benedict XVI wrote, ``live the faith as friendship with God Incarnate and, like 
Him, bear the burden of the material and spiritual needs of their neighbors.''

Move legislation

The international community must increase its assistance and partner in the 
development of capacity for sustained economic growth and social 
transformation. As political stability, personal security and democratic 
practices and accountability are strengthened, the largely unemployed and 
underemployed Haitian workforce must be able to count on continued foreign and 
domestic investment to create employment opportunities. Specifically, the 
United States ought to help enable the apparel industry to thrive again. The 
U.S. Congress ought to act soon in moving stalled legislation that would grant 
meaningful trade preferences to Haiti and, thereby, create thousands of new 
jobs.

The people of Haiti have taken an important step forward in electing a 
president. Now the United States and the international community must take 
additional steps to accompany the Haitian people as they walk the long road to 
a future of democratic and economic revitalization.

Rev. Thomas Wenski is bishop of the archdiocese of Orlando and co-founder of 
the Church of Notre Dame d'Haiti in Miami.