a1819: Plans for Haitian BiCentennial:TBWT (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: JD Lemieux <lxhaiti@yahoo.com>

Plans For Haitian Bicentennial Discussed


By Herb  Boyd
TBWT National Editor
Article Dated 4/26/2002


Two years from now, in 2004, the U.S. will experience
another presidential election. A more momentous occasion
will be celebrated in Haiti, as this impoverished nation
salutes its bicentennial.

In 1804, the largest slave rebellion in the Western
hemisphere was brought to a close as Haitian rebels
defeated, in succession, military forces from Spain,
Britain and France. It was a proud day for the former
French slave colony and this defeat ended Napoleon's quest
to conquer the world.

This was a portion of the background information on the
island's history delivered recently by Minister Leslie
Voltaire at the Center for Constitutional Rights in
downtown Manhattan. Voltaire, who represents the thousands
of Haitians living abroad, was invited by Ron Daniels,
executive director of the Center, to discuss plans about
the forthcoming bicentennial.

"It is perhaps too late to talk about a big infrastructure
display," the minister began, "but there are a number of
pilot projects that are possible." He said plans were
underway to have a large exhibition commemorating the
international slave trade and a symposium of African
writers in the Diaspora. Daniels added that he was in the
process of mounting a campaign to bring some 6,000 people
to the celebration, where he envisioned a cruise ship as a
sort of floating hotel.

"This will be an opportunity to showcase Haitian history
and culture," Daniels said. "It will be like a mini-FESTAC,
with activities on land and sea." FESTAC assemblies were
held to pay tribute to the global significance of African
cultural.

To have a successful bicentennial celebration, Voltaire
said, would entail the full cooperation of the millions of
middle class Haitians living abroad, a good number of them
residing in the United States. "Given the history of the
Duvalier regimes that created massive migrations from
Haiti, we lack a substantial middle class," he explained.
"We have to create the proper conditions for the return of
the middle class to Haiti."

Voltaire said a trade agreement similar to the African
Growth and Opportunity Act introduced in Congress by Rep.
Charles Rangel might stimulate economic investment from the
Haitian entrepreneurs and the middle class abroad. He said
the Haitians living abroad have the annual spending power
of $500 to $800 million, but it was entirely spent on
consumption. "Such an agreement could create more than
150,000 jobs and help to restore the Haitian economy," he
added.

"I think I may be able to help in this regard," said
Councilman Bill Perkins, among the dozen or so participants
at the meeting. "Even so, it won't be easy to induce
Haitians to return until the country is completely
stabilized. This has to be a long term project." Perkins
also expressed a concern about the exploitative labor
practices so rampant on the island. Voltaire assured him
that if such an agreement was reached, for example, on the
import of textiles and other products, a fair wage would be
enforced.

Daniels, whose Haitian Support Project, has delivered more
than $500,000 in aid to Haiti in the form of medical,
school supplies, radios and ambulances over the last eight
years, promised Voltaire his full commitment to make the
bicentennial a memorable one. "We've made several trips to
Haiti, but that was to offer our support, to help relieve
some of the widespread poverty. Our plans for the
bicentennial will continue this support and help to honor a
nation that began the process of ending slavery in the
Western world," he concluded.





Copyright © 2002  The Black World Today.
All Rights Reserved.


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