The First Come in Last: Haiti, An Opportunity for the Region to Show Gratitude and Solidarity

In his essay on the most recent United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (minustah), Damián Cardona begins by pointing out that, although Haiti was the first independent nation in the Caribbean and the first black-led nation in the world to achieve independence in 1804, it now trails at the bottom of regional human development indexes. The relative stability, economic and material progress enjoyed between 1811 and 1950 was interrupted by the dictatorships of Duvalier and his son Jean Claude (1957-1986), which brought the country to its knees. In 1987, the reign of the Duvalier family came to an end and a new Constitution was drawn up, but its slow-moving, rigid mechanisms have made it difficult for Haiti to make any tangible progress. Despite a series of un missions and the support of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) through the Group of Six, the political crisis inevitably escalated and security deteriorated to the point where a rebellion in 2004 culminated in the overthrowing of President Aristide’s regime. It was the interim government of Boniface Alexandre that requested assistance from the United Nations and the minustah was first deployed as a peace-keeping force under the transition government of Gerald Latortue, with the objective of reforming the country’s judicial system. Finally, President René Préval emerged victorious from the 2006 elections. According to Cardona, minustah has a pronounced regional nature and is a mission to which Brazil has always been a major contributor. For the first time, international cooperation has been effective and persistent, with Latin America as a region making a sincere and sustained effort to support Haiti, just as countries like the United States, Canada, Japan and the European Union have backed its transition process. However, the author believes that progress cannot be made in terms of stability, security, the rule of law and respect for human rights without economic development that gives the people of Haiti renewed hope for a better future.