THE EDITOR, Sir:LET ME start by saying that the situation in Haiti is regrettable and would have been just as regrettable had Mr. Aristide remained in power.
The spiralling poverty, increasing violence, vigilantism, massive inequality between the extremely rich minority and the destitute majority are all symptoms of a series of governments that have let down the Haitian people as well as the legacy of the meddling by more affluent (read colonial) countries.
It should also be noted that this description, certainly to a lesser extent, could be used to describe Jamaica. Would those who advocate the removal of President Aristide also advocate the removal of Prime Minister Patterson? Certainly similar allegations can and have been made.
And in an absence of civil war (though this is debatable) we have managed to murder more people since the year began than have been killed in Haiti during a time of anarchy.
What would be our expectation of CARICOM or the US should one of the thugs we call dons decide to capture Montego Bay? To the extent that the police are unable to effectively police some communities in and around Kingston, could it not be said that this situation already exists to some extent?
So would we now expect US Marines to storm Jamaica House and "suggest" to Mr. Patterson that to prevent further bloodshed he flee the country?
I agree with the CARICOM leaders in their rejection of the notion of removing President Aristide. However when we point a finger at someone, we many times leave the other four pointing back at ourselves.
President Aristide begged for our assistance and we did not act. Does that not support the notion that many have of CARICOM as nothing but a talk shop? Certainly there is a cost to sending in peacekeeping troops; we were apparently willing to make that sacrifice in word but not in deed. And we are going to be paying a high cost for the steady stream of refugees to our shores long after this event passes.
A democratic Haiti existing under the rule of law has a better chance of survival and development than one which has the now firmly planted impression that if one is dissatisfied with government the recourse is resort to vigilante methods.
Jamaica, having a more mature democracy (another debate) should have acted as the older brother and stepped in, leading the rest of CARICOM. Perhaps the concern was the Haitians would retort 'Physician heal thyself!'.
I am, etc.,
BRUCE McNIGHT
bruce_mcknight@hotmail.com
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Via Go-Jamaica
