6109: RE: 6096: Re: 6087: The cost of democracy to Haiti: Poincy comments (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Zakai Kinan <kassav@earthlink.net>

Gentlemen,
That would be a gargantuan mistake for President-elect Aristide to use a
strong hand under any circumstances.  The idea of any president spending a
generation in power without being elected is totally unacceptable.  This is
coming from a supporter of Lavalas.  Democracy is messy and I did not expect
anything less.  Haiti desperately needs a couple of presidential changes.

Greg P.



-----Original Message-----
From: owner-haiti@lists.webster.edu
[mailto:owner-haiti@lists.webster.edu]On Behalf Of Bob Corbett
Sent: Saturday, December 02, 2000 5:40 PM
To: Haiti mailing list
Subject: 6096: Re: 6087: The cost of democracy to Haiti: Poincy comments
(fwd)



From: caineve@idt.net

 Hyppolite

> My only hope is that some in this so diverse, eclectic opposition,
recognizes
> that it's best for the sake of the country, to negotiate in good faith
with
> Fanmi Lavalas. Otherwise, short of an "invasion" which most of them seem
to
> hope for, Lavalas if they play their card right and democratically, will
be
> in power for a very long time to come.
>

Hyppolite,  “mon ami”, you couldn’t have said it any better. This is the
irrationality of Ayitian politicians and their backers that I’ve been
talking
about and you have eloquently presented. I know no cure for it and democracy
as
some of us wish it to be in Ayiti is far to be one. You pointed out the
possibility of having Lavalas in power for a long time, if the oppositions
don’t behave properly; myself I am stressing such a length of time as a
necessity, “a must be” to really give birth to true democracy in Ayiti.

Unless Aristide uses a strong hand to force the oppositions or anybody else
to
follow a straight line, the country will be ungovernable. Even if the
oppositions agree to enter in agreement with Lavalas, it will be for a short
period, because no Ayitian in authority position can tolerate others in
authority positions on an equal footing. It’s either them or no one else.
This
is a mentality to change. Changing this mentality is a social phenomenon
that
can be done through education (not formal education) and it is not an easy
one.

One presidency term is insufficient to promote these kind of social changes.
Hence, the reason why I advocate a government for at least a generation.
Again,
there can be the transfer of power, but within the unique body of government
with the required ideology. Within it, democratic processes can take place.
We
need not to forget that democracy in essence is merely a form of decision
making process.


Ayiti has lived, lives and will live
Mozeb








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