27943: re: 27926: Senou: Comment: A Call for a Coalition and a Unity government (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: E Vedrine <evedrine@hotmail.com>


Review of Senou's comments:

Yes, everyone knows that the presidential elections are over and Preval is the 
president-elect. Haitians (most of them) don't see things in the American way 
(in terms of the elections are over, congratulate the winner). It's terrible 
when reading about Manigat's reaction about Preval, the winner. Manigat who 
came in secound position does not even get 13% (of over 90% of the votes 
counted) and he's been complaing about an "electoral coup" (against him), and 
even thinking of all possible ways for a legal fight. I don't know how many of 
us have read one the funniest fables by La Fontaine, "La grenouille et le 
boeuf". Where's the beef (in the case of Manigat's wanting to burst)?

Senou, in his article suggests that the 'Diaspora or the mainland' must work 
together. The thing is that we (Haitians in the Diaspora - those who really 
want to help Haiti) need the PROPER CHANNELS to do so and of course, we focus 
on ANY serious government who ascends to power to create / open these channels. 
In other words, we need STRUCTURES (as models to help us or to follow). I talk 
about the importance of HUMAN RESOURCES in a latest article I've written, how 
Haiti can benefit from it. But unfortunately, that has never been exploited to 
help Haiti to my knowledge. Shouldn't that be part of the "Minister of the 
Diaspora"'s agenda (to create these crucial channels in order to exploit human 
resources for the benefit of Haiti's development? I guess this should be among 
the most important agendas' of the incoming government. Yes, there are many 
Brothers and Sisters in the Diaspora who would love to help Haiti with all 
their heart BUT, they need proper channels, institutions to do so and something 
that the following government can build upon to help the country moving 
forward.

At the same time, we SHOULD encourage group of people who are trying to do 
anything to help (without waiting for these proper channels to be created). 
Among these groups, we can mention the "regional groups" (e.g, some people who 
are from certain regions in Haiti decide to get together to do something to 
help their native province: building a clinic, school, hospital, create a 
business, an activity for the youth, whatever...). This is an excellent idea 
because at the same time, the country has too many problems to be solved and 
really if we are conscious, it would be impossible to wait for any government 
who ascends to power to solve all of of Haiti's problems in 5 years. But these 
projects MUST BE ENCOURAGED by the Haitian government, they must try to support 
these groups (for instance, facilitate them if they need certain autorisation 
from the govenment to proceed with what they are doing, certain help to ship 
some materials to Haiti and we know the headache they can have through the 
CUSTOMS service in Haiti. Confronting these problems cand discourage them from 
helping their own provinces (that are part of Hati) when the government can't 
help them and in a way, they are helping the government somehow by making the 
burden lighter for them.

BLAMING each other and taking revenges are among the points mentioned by Senou. 
Yes, Haitians are very good at that (blaming each other and taking revenges, 
blaming former colonizers all the time instead of taking responsibility for 
their own mess). It's a whole MENTALITY that needs to be changed here (to GROW 
up in a way), and that can't be done over night. Not only we have to preach 
what's good to be done constantly, but also we (who are doing the preaching) 
must also set examples as models to follow.

In Senou's suggestion to 'to follow Mandela footsteps'. We first see 
FORGIVENESS here and be able to work with RIVALS. But can that really happen in 
Haiti? But first, shouldn't there be a JUSTICE system (to tell "x"  or "y" of 
their wrong doings before forgiveness can be granted (if he wants to follow the 
Mandela' model)? Look how many people who have been in jail since Latortu came 
to power (in few days, 2 years) and these prisoners never see their judge, 
something that's against the constitution because they MUST see their judge in 
two days. So, I guess Senou is going to think of that (how to grant forgiveness 
after justice is done). Yes, we can FORGIVE and not FORGET. Haitians are not 
easy to forgive and we know that. Is it really part of the Haitian culture or 
of a political culture (back home)?

In calling to 'establish a bridge between those 'who have' and those 'who have 
not', as Senou mentions, our question is: How SOLID can that bridge be? Here, I 
see that he leaves out TO CREATE. How about that, create also to empower  'who 
have not', teach them how to create to have (not just "give" them)? If you show 
me how to fish, it would be better than giving me a fish daily for I can be on 
my own catching many every day in the nearby water and at any time (teaching to 
be independent).

e. w. vedrine