a665: The hawks, the doves, and the reasonables (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Hyppolite Pierre <hpierre@irsp.org>

It's been tough lately, trying to figure out what the hopes are for a better Haiti. Government has been concentrating its effors on getting money from foreign banks. Meanwhile, many lavalas partisans have been expressing their concern (some privately) over the way things are being handled in Haiti. The truth of the matter seems to be that nowadays, you have three kinds of Lavalas partisans: the hawks, the doves, and the reasonables.

The hawks are amongst those in power. They are oftentimes vociferous, and have the ears of the presidency. They demonstrate on the streets, plot Prime Minister's resignation, refuse to lift immunity in Parliament under all kinds of pretexts, and are desparately tring to get the international institutions to release some 500 million dollars.

The doves are mostly the majority voters who elected for Lavalas in the 2000 elections. They are surprised at the turn of events, and are simply resigned to telling you that they are still lavalas. The problem is that they are witnessing their dream, fading away for a more transparent process in Haiti. They know the problems, and are still hoping that Aristide can make a difference.

The reasonables are this group which tries to come up with sensical policy suggestions, and are not ashamed to say that something is very wrong. For instance, how come no one noticed that the UN fee is due (only about 50,000 dollars) when the State can spend almost 2 million dollars to buy an official residence for the Prime Minister? Overall however, they still have faith in the movement, hoping that a more equitable and rational Haiti can rise with Lavalas from its current mess.

It is the latter group (the reasonable), that also incidentally is oftentimes accused of all sorts of evil: foreign agents, traitors, etc. The fact remains that Haiti's hope lies with the reasonable. With an opposition that has yet to do its job of seriously focusing on the issues, and the hawks in power, there can be no hope for Haiti but only among those (whether or not they are lavalas) who have the courage to say what they think is right, and expose the problems, hoping that solutions can not only be intellectually discussed, but rationally put in place.

My only wish is that government could realize the seriousness of the problems. If only they could accept the fact that Haiti cannot be governed à la Papa Bon Coeur, like Haïti Progrès so rightfully pointed it out, then we could hope for a regime of law, order, transparency, and administrative savvy.

Hyppolite Pierre
IRSP
http://www.irsp.org