Elizabeth Morgan | HAITI: A history of foreign involvement, but also of chronic crises in leadership

This week, I am taking a detour into history. My knowledge of Haiti’s history was limited to the revolution of 1791-1804 in which a slave rebellion in then Saint Domingue led to independence from France. I heard about the involvement in the early years of a man, who had been a slave in Jamaica, called Boukman Dutty. I knew that during and after the revolution, Haitians of the more affluent classes (whites and coloured) found refuge in colonial Jamaica.

People of Haitian origin, like Malabre and Laraque, established businesses in Kingston, lived around the Race Course and were some early settlers in Rae Town. They also helped to improve Jamaica’s coffee industry, which had its heyday from about 1810-1833.

I realised, however, that I did not really know Haiti’s history from 1804 to the present. I did some reading.

THE FOREIGN POWERS

We have heard about the involvement of France, the colonial power, and later the USA in Haiti’s history of sorrows. For recognition of Haiti as an independent state, the French Government in 1825 forged a gunpoint agreement with the Haitian President Jean Pierre Boyer, to be paid an indemnity of 150 million francs, a debt not fully cleared until 1947.

The French animosity had been further entrenched through the years following the execution of 5,000 mainly French nationals by Haitian President Jean-Jacques Dessalines, in 1804. It influenced the attitude of others as well.

The foreign powers involved in Haiti’s history also included Britain, which, during the early years of its revolution, launched a campaign in an effort to capture and subdue the wealthy Saint-Domingue from its enemy, France, while there was unrest. The British occupied part of Saint Domingue from about 1793-1798. This, it is recorded, was a disastrous campaign for the British.

It is also recorded that Col Louis Rene Malabre, who would die in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1814, and become part of Jamaican history, had served with the British forces in this campaign. Britain would not recognise the state of Haiti until 1833 when it abolished slavery in its Empire.

The other European power involved in Haiti was Germany. In the 18th century, Germans had settled in a part of Saint Domingue. Germans and Poles were granted citizenship in Haiti in 1805 due to their willingness to integrate. In the mid-19th century, Germany began to increase its commercial activities with Haiti, coming to control 80 per cent of its foreign trade. By the 1890s, Germany had begun to exert its influence in Haiti.

The USA actually had some involvement with Haiti during its revolution, although not clear on whether to offer support to this fledgling state or not. Eventually, President Thomas Jefferson, a southerner and slave holder, was against US support.

In 1862, under Abraham Lincoln during the US Civil War, the US recognised Haiti in return for use of its ports by the Union navy. The USA later, in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with the Monroe Doctrine, took greater interest in Haiti’s affairs as it wanted to reduce the influence of European powers, mainly France and Germany. From 1915-1934, the US occupied Haiti, taking charge of its financial system.

The US excursions into pseudo-colonialism in this hemisphere were disastrous. It is agreed that the US occupation of Haiti was damaging to the country. But, yet, in terms of leadership, this might have been one of the most stable periods in Haiti’s history.

HAITIAN LEADERS

The battle to oust France was not quite over when the Haitians began the battle for power among themselves – a house divided. The country was split into various factions and race played a key role, coloureds against blacks. Between 1806 and 1820, Haiti was divided into two states. It was reunited under President Jean Pierre Boyer. Boyer then united the entire island of Hispaniola, the French and Spanish sides. This would lead to the fracture between the Dominican Republic (the Spanish side) and Haiti. The independence monument in Santo Domingo states that the Dominican Republic gained its independence from Haiti in 1844.

The internal leadership battles in Haiti would be continuous for nearly 220 years.

Haiti has had about 45 heads of state, including two kings and an emperor. Many of these were from the military. A number have appointed themselves President for Life. The longest serving was Jean-Pierre Boyer, who served for 25 years, 1818-1843, after appointing himself ‘President for Life’.

Among the leaders, 23 were overthrown; three assassinated; one executed, and one committed suicide. 17 have had terms of one year or less.

François Duvalier and his son, Jean Claude, served collectively for 29 years – François, 1957-1971 (President for Life), and Jean Claude, 1971-1986, when he was overthrown.

There were at least seven Haitian presidents who found refuge in Jamaica after being deposed. These were Jean Pierre Boyer, 1843; Charles Rivire-Herard, 1844-1850; Faustin Soulouque (Faustin I) 1859-1860s; Fabre Geffard, 1867-1878; Michel Dominque, 1876-1877; Pierre Théoma Boisrond-Canal, exiled in Jamaica for a few months in 1875 and 1879; Pierre Nord Alexis,1908-1909; and Joseph Davilmar Theodore, 1915-16. The last to spend time in Jamaica was Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2004.

The impression, from biographies, is that it is a dangerous job to be head of state in Haiti. A Haitian leader cannot rest well as it seems that a target is always on his back. Words used to describe many of Haiti’s leaders are ‘autocratic’ and ‘despotic’. Those in power spent a lot of time fighting off rivals and governing by unorthodox means to quash opposition. Development issues were secondary.

It is said that most leaders in Haiti’s history have governed for themselves and not for the country and its people. Haiti’s leaders have contributed to the destruction of the country along with foreign actions and the impact of natural disasters through the years.

So, another Haitian Head of State, Jovenel Moïse, was assassinated in July 2021 and, again, Haiti descended further and further into chaos.

ANOTHER SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS

CARICOM and the international community, again, are trying to find a solution to Haiti’s problems and searching for an interim leadership structure which can return the country to stability, creating the environment in which a new president can be elected. The objective is to put Haiti back on a path to democracy, stability and dignity. From its history, the question could be posed as to whether Haiti has ever really been on this path.

Like CARICOM heads of state and government and former heads, we all have to hope and pray that, this time, a solution can be found to the troubles in Haiti and history can be reversed for this country of 11.7 million people.

Wanted for Haiti – an honest, caring, astute leader concerned about national unity and development of the country; one who can gain the support of the people without coercion.

Elizabeth Morgan is a specialist in international trade policy and international politics. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com