THE EDITOR, Sir:
ROBERT BUDDAN, usually incisive in his comments, has fallen short in his assessment of current developments in Haiti. ("The Caribbean and the world beyond Iraq" December 21, 2003).
In writing about Haiti, he states that one of the reasons for the protests against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide "is because of unfair legislative elections in 2000." This is a superficial and wrong description.
The monitors from the Organisation of American States (OAS) concluded that the legislative elections were generally reflective of the will of the people, but that the computing of votes for a few senate seats have been unfairly manipulated to benefit Aristide's Fanmi Lavalas party. The demands on the government were for a rerun of this minority of seats. Buddan gives the impression that the entire election was compromised.
Buddan errs again in claiming that "International financial institutions are holding up funds until Haiti accepts the usual International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme for more austerity." This is incorrect on two counts.
The funds promised to Haiti by foreign donors and creditors, and those due from multilateral institutions, are not being released until Haiti fulfils its promises for specific economic reforms, including a new customs regime, deregulation of interest rates, and the privatisation of some specific government assets, including telecommunications and electricity services.
RELEASE OF THE FUNDS
The release of the funds is also dependent on the government establishing an independent electoral council, arresting its partisans that attacked and razed Convergence Democratique's offices in December 2001, selecting a non-political police chief, and curbing its violent supporters to allow a "safe environment" for voting.
Also, there is no negotiation taking place between Haiti and the IMF that will lead to any IMF-mandated austerity.
The political situation in Haiti, and the failure to end the political impasse, is being prolonged by Convergence Democratique who says that its priority is not elections, but in getting Aristide to resign. The OAS says that Aristide's resignation is not among the conditions for assistance to Haiti.
Convergence Democratique is being encouraged by the US, which promises support lf it becomes the government. Although Aristide appears increasingly unpopular, Convergence lacks the popular support to win an election frustrating the US intentions.
I am, etc.,
HOLLY NATION
hollynation@hotmail.com
Gordon Town
St Andrew
Via Go-Jamaica
