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Haitian's $21.7B Restitution Demand
In poverty-wracked nation, the idea is proving popular




By Letta Tayler
LATIN AMERICA CORRESPONDENT

December 2, 2003

Câp-Haitien, Haiti - Even a sudden rainstorm couldn't dampen the euphoria among throngs of Haitians cheering a recent speech by President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

In an homage to the battle of Vertières, the slave revolt near this sultry coastal city two centuries ago that toppled French rule over Haiti, Aristide was pressing his latest pet cause: that France return the money Haiti was forced to pay its former colonizer after independence - a sum, he claims, that inflation brings to a whopping $21.7 billion. That sum is 44 times Haiti's current annual budget.

"Today or tomorrow, we will win the battle of restitution, the same way our ancestors won the battle of Vertières," Aristide said.

"Restitution!" his supporters screamed in agreement. Dozens of red and blue banners fluttering overhead spelled out their cry in Haitian Creole.

As Haiti kicks off celebrations this month for its bicentennial as the world's first black republic, the restitution demand has enthralled the tiny Caribbean nation and has become a microcosm of the broader debate over Aristide's presidency.

A former slum priest elected president twice by championing the rights of the poor, and restored to power by U.S. troops in 1994 after being ousted in a coup, Aristide has pitched restitution as manna from heaven that could unshackle Haiti from its slave legacy. On television and radio, ads set to pulsating rhythms allude to the fabulous public works projects that Haiti, the poorest and most ravaged nation in the hemisphere, could launch with the $21.7 billion.

Aristide, increasingly criticized for failing to lift his country out of destitution, has used the restitution theme in his campaign against foes he paints as a greedy elite bent on ousting him before his term ends in 2006. "Coup d'etat! No! Elections! Yes! Restitution! Yes!" goes one popular restitution jingle.

Haiti claims $21.7 billion is the equivalent, after adjustments for inflation, of the 90 million francs it paid France in the early 1800s for the loss of the latter's most profitable colony. Though it physically relinquished Haiti, France boycotted and threatened to invade its former colony until it agreed to pay for formal recognition of its independence. So cash-starved was the fledgling Haitian republic that it had to borrow a third of the money from a French bank - at 6 percent interest - to make the payments.

"The main reason we're so poor today is that we had to pay France that money," said Leslie Voltaire, a cabinet minister and key member of the government's restitution panel. By emptying the coffers, he said, the French intentionally made it impossible for Haiti to build schools and roads and make other improvements for its population of former slaves.

Over the centuries, "the Spaniards took our gold. The French cleared our hardwood to create coffee and sugarcane plantations," Voltaire continued. "The only recourse left to us is restitution."

The demand is unprecedented on the part of a former colony and, not surprisingly, has met a cool reception in France. Haiti's economic woes, French President Jacques Chirac initially suggested, are the result of corruption and mismanagement, not French greed. As Haiti made loud noises about taking the case to international court, however, Chirac created a special commission to review Haitian-French relations. Though he didn't mention the "R" word, Haiti immediately crowed that the panel's mission was to explore restitution.

Like just about everything about Aristide, the restitution campaign has divided Haitians.

"Aristide wants to use the restitution issue to turn France into a scapegoat for his own ineptitude and corruption," said Laennec Hurbon, a sociologist and one of 100 prominent Haitian intellectuals who have signed a petition protesting Aristide's presidency.

But at the Câp-Haitien rally, supporters hailed the restitution plan as proof that Aristide is a man of the people.

"We're still suffering here because of slavery and the trouble the French gave us after we kicked them out," said Kilmen George, 25, an unemployed resident of Port-au-Prince. "Aristide's the only one brave enough to do something about it."

France is getting off easy, said Francis St. Hubert, an economist and restitution committee member. If Haiti charged 7.5-percent interest on the money, France would owe $4 trillion today - and much more tomorrow.

"The French can debate whether they want to pay for as long as they like," St. Hubert said. "But it will cost them an extra $34 a second."
Copyright © 2003, Newsday, Inc.



what are your views on this topic?? do you think it will ultimately make any difference??

Even though i believe France owes Haiti every red cent of the money demanded, i doubt very much they will recieve anything... First, France will not part with any money at all... Second, if it looks like France is even considering giving any restitution to Haiti, look for the United States to put an immediate stop to it...
Look at when Haiti first gained independence... The American government wanted to supress any news of any successful Black slave revolt or a Black independent nation from reaching the Blacks in America...
Now America will not want any Black nation recieving any kind of restitutions for slavery to exist. This will serve as a precedent and a possible platform for a stronger campain for restitutions in the United States

If France gives RESTITUTION to Haiti, how is the United States going to STOP this from happening?

The United States has used their influence, intimidation and coersion to get other nations to do their bidding so many times...
All they have to do is make use of the International Monetary Fund as the have done in the past on so many occasions...

We're talking about FRANCE here, not no MICKEY MOUSE COUNTRY. Furthermore, FRANCE is PART of the IMF.

So back to my question again, how do you suppose the USA is going to STOP FRANCE from paying HAITI restitution?

True.. United States does not have as much power over France as they do over smaller nations, but keep in mind America is the worlds most powerfull nation.. a Super Power

I have to do some research to answer your question... i will return shortly...

Ok...I will be waiting, because I have more questions and comments for you.