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Haiti Update: Sarkozy Visit Offers Economic Aid

Preval (l) and Sarkozy (r), first visit by French president since 1804 Haitian revolution

Preval (l) and Sarkozy (r), first visit by French president since 1804 Haitian revolution

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti  France’s national anthem blared across the tarmac on Wednesday as Nicolas Sarkozy made the first visit ever by a French president to Haiti, once his nation’s richest colony — offering aid to a country prostrate after a catastrophic earthquake.

Nicolas Sarkozy promised 230 Mn  ($400 Mn) in aid for quake-stricken Haiti on Wednesday as he made the first visit ever by a French president to what was once his nation’s richest colony. Sarkozy toured a French field hospital and viewed the earthquake-ravaged capital through the door of a helicopter.  “I want only to say to the Haitian people, ‘You are not alone,'” Sarkozy said at a news conference on the grounds of Haiti’s National Palace.

Sarkozy, who was greeted by Haitian President Rene Preval as a brass band played the Marseillaise, toured a French field hospital in the earthquake-ravaged capital before giving a brief speech at the undamaged French Embassy. He said his visit had particular resonance given France and Haiti’s historical ties and acknowledged that the ”wounds of colonization” were perhaps still fresh in the minds of many Haitians, many of whom blame France for the country’s troubles. ”We are living a pivotal moment, a moment of truth for Haiti,” Sarkozy said.

Sarkozy also added that Haiti needs a reconstruction plan that bolsters the outlying provinces to help shift people away from Port-au-Prince, the Caribbean’s most densely populated capital. He said one reason the death toll was so high was that the city was not built to sustain such a large population. He also made the point that it is time for Haiti to take control of its destiny and free itself from dependence on foreign aid. ”The Haitian people have been wounded … The Haitian people are standing,” he said, ending the speech by saying ”Vive la France, Vive Haiti.”

Some Haitians are welcoming France’s new interest in their nation as a counterbalance to the United States, which has sent troops there three times in the past 16 years.

haiti-earthquake But Sarkozy’s visit is also reviving bitter memories of the crippling costs of Haiti’s 1804 independence. A third of the population was killed in an uprising against exceptionally brutal slavery, a U.S.-French led international embargo was imposed on Haiti immediately following its valiant revolution in order to deter slave revolts elsewhere, and 90 million pieces of gold were demanded by Paris from the world’s first black republic. The debt hobbled Haiti, it seemed for life.  The country, already plagued by natural and unnatural calamities, was desperately poor and mismanaged even before a magnitude-7 earthquake smashed up the capital Port-au-Prince on Jan. 12, killing more than 200,000 people and leaving more than a million homeless. However, Haitian politicians this week diplomatically skirted the question of French reparations — a demand put to Paris by ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2004. That suggests Sarkozy’s four-hour visit could herald a new era.

French officials say Sarkozy will announce details of ”a French plan for the reconstruction of Haiti” — if Haitian officials agree. It differs little from proposals from Haitian, U.S. and U.N. officials to decentralize power away from the devastated capital and boost agriculture and tourism. The trip brings Sarkozy to an island where, French officials acknowledge, fascination with things French duels with strong, lingering resentments.

One official close to the French presidency, briefing reporters in Paris on condition of anonymity, hinted that France is not deaf to calls for reparations, calling Sarkozy’s visit ”an occasion to show that France is mobilizing to give Haitians control of their destiny and pay past debts.”  France has already said it was canceling all of Haiti’s 56 Mn (US$77 Mn) debt to Paris.

In 1825, crippled by the U.S.-led international embargo that was enforced by French warships, Haiti agreed to pay France 150 million francs in compensation for the lost ”property” — including slaves — of French plantation owners. By comparison, France sold the United States its immensely larger Louisiana Territory in 1803 for just 60 million francs. The amount for Haiti was later lowered to 90 million gold francs.

Haiti did not finish paying the debilitating debt — which was swollen by massive interest payments to French and American banks — until 1947…   Read more here.

Source:  AP,  New York Times                                                 Photo: AP

 

Author

Elison Elliott

Elison Elliott , a native of Belize, is a professional investment advisor for the Global Wealth and Invesment Management division of a major worldwide financial services firm. His experience in the global financial markets span over 18 years in both the public and private sectors. Elison is a graduate, cum laude, of the City College of New York (CUNY), and completed his Masters-level course requirements in the International Finance & Banking (IFB) program at Columbia University (SIPA). Elison lives in the northern suburbs of New York City. He is an avid student of sovereign risk, global economics and market trends, and enjoys writing, aviation, outdoor adventure, International travel, cultural exploration and world affairs.

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