Myrtha Désulmé, Contributor

Désulmé

On September 11, as the sun was setting on the first day of the Ethiopian Millenium, and America observed the anniversary of a day which had shaken its very foundation, Orette Bruce Golding became the eighth Prime Minister of Jamaica.

The Caribbean leaders assembled for Mr. Golding's investiture seemed pleased to hear his confirmation of Jamaica's commitment to CARICOM. But is the Caribbean nation a reality, or is it a myth?

It is ironic that the Caribbean, which is a crossroads of civilisation, and a melting pot of cross-fertilisation, proud of its ability to blend European, Chinese, Indian, Middle Eastern and African blood and heritage, to create such a unique breed of people, should have remained so surprisingly insular between islands.

Trinidadian luminary, C.L.R. James, asserted that West Indians first became aware of themselves as a people in the Haitian Revolution. Haiti is where the African Presence first stood up in the New World,and due to the integrity of its African retentions, Haiti holds the key to the Caribbean's cultural identity.

gaining momentum

Today, the Caribbean spirit seems to be gaining momentum. According to Professor Michael Dash, who has studied extensively the relationship between Haiti and CARICOM, Haiti is arguably a test case for rethinking the Caribbean in terms of a new supranational entity, and moving beyond the sub-national cocoons that have bedevilled Caribbean integration in the past. Haiti is undoubtedly the last frontier in the Western Hemisphere.

In July, members of the Haiti-Jamaica Society were delighted to hear, that at the 28th CARICOM Summit, Organisation of American States Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza, and his deputy, Ambassador Albert Ramdin, expressed to the media, the OAS's feeling that the time was right for the University of the West Indies to pursue seriously the creation of a campus in Haiti, as a "much-needed and practical form of support".

intrigued

UWI Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nigel Harris, responded by declaring that he is "intrigued" and "quite interested" in the idea of establishing a campus in Haiti, which he would recommend for serious consideration, once he was in possession of all the relevant information, and had benefited from the views of stakeholders in Haiti.

Already, he said, the UWI administration had been approached by students at its Mona campus, who have shown a keen interest in learning about Haiti, and in developing lines of communication for mutual benefit.

Shortly before this announcement, the Haiti-Jamaica Society (HJS) was also approached by the vice-presidents of the UWI Guilds of Students of the three campuses - Roger Bent (Jamaica), Udali O'Neil (Barbados), and Malika Thompson (Trinidad) - who have chosen to focus their yearly project on an initiative called 'Roots to Haiti', which aims to foster educational integration with Haiti.

They were seeking guidance from the HJS on the best way to proceed, and the most pressing needs to be filled,for this first such project initiated by a regional educational institution.

I urged them to set a foundation for posterity, which would serve as a basis for the eventual creation of the Caribbean nation through the student body. When I asked them why they had chosen Haiti for their project, Udali O'Neil spontaneously exclaimed:

"Because Haiti is the emblem of the Caribbean!"

I was deeply moved, and eminently proud of these idealistic, fresh-faced youths, who had so instinctively caught the Caribbean spirit. They had the discernment to look beyond the poverty and the gory headlines, and had the incisiveness to understand, that though the sensationalistic requirements of the media dictate that our attention be commanded by the actors who play out the ongoing drama of violence, guerrilla warfare, political intrigue, and social upheaval, that these are not the ones who deserve our attention, riveting as they may be.

It is high time we turn our attention to those who truly deserve it. The Caribbean should be busy rescuing the trapped victims: the millions of babies, children, youths, women and men, devoid of an outlet, caught in the crossfire of the factions warring for political power, and economic hegemony. The HJS plans to do just that.

'And a little child shall lead them'

The UWI Guilds of Students seem to be leading the way on this great Caribbean adventure. Their far-sighted initiative represents an important milestone, as it echoes the HJS's overall mission.

The HJS aims to stimulate dialogue in Jamaica, geared towards supporting the Haitian people in their struggle for justice, human rights, and participatory democracy; promote peace and national reconciliation; bring an end to social exclusion; facilitate the integration of Haiti into CARICOM; assist with the refugee crisis; develop sustainable social, political, and economic solutions for Haiti; and generally contribute to the rebuilding of the nation.

The society also plans to contribute to the creation of a Centre for Haitian Studies & Development at UWI, which would provide research to achieve all of the above, and serve as a resource centre on Haiti for CARICOM.

The centre's research emphasis will be multidisciplinary, drawing on the expertise of scholars across the UWI campus and internationally. All courses would focus on the particularities of the Haitian situation, with the aim of educating CARICOM nationals regarding Haiti, its culture and traditions, its collective intellectual output, and the importance and international influence of its historical role. The research would focus on sustainable solutions for development, stability and regeneration.

The centre would work towards forging links between Haiti and the rest of CARICOM, through student and private sector exchanges, as well as the organisation of conferences, seminars, exhibitions, and cultural events.

haitian culture

Haitian business people, writers, intellectuals, speakers, artistes, musicians, dancers, and other persons of interest would be invited to unleash the richness, beauty and power of Haitian culture on Jamaica and the rest of CARICOM, with the aim of enlightening the general public, enriching the cross-cultural influences, and transcending myths, prejudices, misconceptions and propaganda.

While the HJS enthusiastically welcomes the idea of the UWI campus in Haiti, we realise that it is not immediately practicable, due to the groundwork which would need to be effected. This makes the Centre for Haitian Studies and Development all the more opportune, as the perfect vehicle to lay this foundation and create the necessary linkages, to make the Haiti campus an eventual reality.

Haiti's 2004 bicentenary year was a particularly trying one for the Haitian people. A vastly popular regime was toppled in circumstances which, to this day, remain murky, resulting in an implosion, which brought the country to the brink of civil war. As if that were not enough, a shattering earthquake came close on the heels of a particularly devastating Hurricane Jeanne, which had already claimed a whopping 3,000 lives.

golding's plea

In the face of this unprecedented accumulation of catastrophes, the Jamaican Government announced imminent plans to repatriate the Haitian refugees, who had collapsed on Jamaica's doorstep, in desperate search of assistance and protection. A lone voice soon rang out, however, in the political wilderness, pleading for compassion in the timing of the return of the refugees. That voice was none other than then Senator Bruce Golding.

If the spirit which saw it fit to champion such a voiceless and voteless sector has survived the vicissitudes of the political fray, it may be safe to take heart in the notion, that the Caribbean spirit is alive and kicking in Jamaica today.

Myrtha Desulme is president of the Haiti-Jamaica Society.

'Haiti's 2004 bicentenary year was a particularly trying one for the Haitian people. A vastly popular regime was toppled in circumstances which, to this day, remain murky, resulting in an implosion, which brought the country to the brink of civil war.'