“They are answers”
Conventional wisdom tends to correspond to mobility where resources in a country are created in aid of various international and national partnerships to help address the socioeconomic and sociopolitical issues in the territory. We have had the possibility in our grasp and for some reason or another, it never surfaces at length.
Many nationalists, Haitians living abroad –“diaspora” and international outsiders blame the political atmosphere and the high level of poverty as the reasons that brought the country to the brink of self-destruction. Yet, there are other factors. These factors contribute to the present social and political transformation and lead the country to the state of despair. Among them are law and policy makers whose visibility is nonexistent. Their roles as insiders and gate watchers instead of gate owners have some people feeling uncomfortable and that leads them to be labeled as tainted individuals who have shown no interest in the country’s efforts to fight gang violence, drugs, poverty, and other causes.
In other words, Haiti does not need platonic leader(s). She needs individuals who understand her conditions, her position, her state of immediate need to deter crime, political corruption, and poverty. Also, she needs those that will bring her resources as friends and partners. That will help to generate an economy that corresponds to the country’s demands in targeting such pressing issues as unemployment, security, health care, education, and economic empowerment for both private and public sectors. This marriage will gradually eliminate some of the domestic tension that presently exists throughout the country.
These conditions are adamant. They ought to be dealt with by making heartfelt efforts to anchor our socio-political values and beliefs. By doing so, Haiti will once again show the world with transparency its new image at home to globally rematerialize her position as a developing economic base in the Americas.
There is old saying, a French proverb which says, “On récolte ce qu’on a semé” meaning – (We reap what we sow). Haitians, we live by that.
Patience is our virtue and we know how to do it; therefore, it is our civic duty and social responsibility to make sure that we earn the respect of our foes and friends by building coalitions and reaching out to socio-political actors instead of destroying the basic principle of our founding fathers – L’union fait la force – meaning “Together we are strong”, under our multicolor, blue, red and white – flag that reads, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity – with the emblem, Republic of Haiti.
In closing, let me take this time to inform everyone here today that Haiti is the mother of liberty across the globe. May 18th every year gives us a platform where each Haitians both young and old are, to also know – that we are the very first group of people out of Africa that stood up to confront the colonial powers then as England, Spain and France and said to them – Abraham dit c’est assez! meaning “We have enough.”
That is why, I challenge all of you Haitian-American students and friends, let’s mobilize and continue to fight against all injustices at your schools, in your communities and especially in Haiti, the fatherland.
Thank you!
Prof. Alphonse Prophete, M.A. & Ph.M. is an Educator and Distinguished Haitian leader based in the US.
