From the Nation Newspaper [Barbados - Published on: 1/17/2010]
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES is in the process of conceiving how best to deliver a major conference on the theme Rethinking And Rebuilding Haiti.
I am very keen to provide an input into this exercise because for too long there has been a popular perception that somehow the Haitian nation-building project, launched on January 1, 1804, has failed on account of mismanagement, ineptitude, corruption.
Buried beneath the rubble of imperial propaganda, out of both Western Europe and the United States, is the evidence which shows that Haiti's independence was defeated by an aggressive North-Atlantic alliance that could not imagine their world inhabited by a free regime of Africans as representatives of the newly emerging democracy.
The evidence is striking, especially in the context of France.
The Haitians fought for their freedom and won, as did the Americans fifty years earlier. The Americans declared their independence and crafted an extraordinary constitution that set out a clear message about the value of humanity and the right to freedom, justice, and liberty.
In the midst of this brilliant discourse, they chose to retain slavery as the basis of the new nation state. The founding fathers therefore could not see beyond race, as the free state was built on a slavery foundation.
The water was poisoned in the well; the Americans went back to the battlefield a century later to resolve the fact that slavery and freedom could not comfortably co-exist in the same place.
The French, also, declared freedom, fraternity and equality as the new philosophies of their national transformation and gave the modern world a tremendous progressive boost by so doing.
They abolished slavery, but Napoleon Bonaparte could not imagine the republic without slavery and targeted the Haitians for a new, more intense regime of slavery. The British agreed, as did the Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese.
All were linked in communion over the 500 000 Blacks in Haiti, the most populous and prosperous Caribbean colony.
As the jewel of the Caribbean, they all wanted to get their hands on it. With a massive slave base, the English, French and Dutch salivated over owning it - and the people.
The people won a ten-year war, the bloodiest in modern history, and declared their independence. Every other country in the Americas was based on slavery.
Haiti was freedom, and proceeded to place in its 1805 Independence Constitution that any person of African descent who arrived on its shores would be declared free, and a citizen of the republic.
For the first time since slavery had commenced, Blacks were the subjects of mass freedom and citizenship in a nation.
The French refused to recognise Haiti's independence and declared it an illegal pariah state. The Americans, whom the Haitians looked to in solidarity as their mentor in independence, refused to recognise them, and offered solidarity instead to the French. The British, who were negotiating with the French to obtain the ownership title to Haiti, also moved in solidarity, as did every other nation-state the Western world.
Haiti was isolated at birth - ostracised and denied access to world trade, finance, and institutional development. It was the most vicious example of national strangulation recorded in modern history.
The Cubans, at least, have had Russia, China, and Vietnam. The Haitians were alone from inception. The crumbling began.
Then came 1825; the moment of full truth. The republic is celebrating its 21st anniversary. There is national euphoria in the streets of Port-au-Prince.
The economy is bankrupt; the political leadership isolated. The cabinet took the decision that the state of affairs could not continue.
The country had to find a way to be inserted back into the world economy. The French government was invited to a summit.
Officials arrived and told the Haitian government that they were willing to recognise the country as a sovereign nation but it would have to pay compensation and reparation in exchange. The Haitians, with backs to the wall, agreed to pay the French.
The French government sent a team of accountants and actuaries into Haiti in order to place a value on all lands, all physical assets, the 500 000 citizens were who formerly enslaved, animals, and all other commercial properties and services.
The sums amounted to 150 million gold francs. Haiti was told to pay this reparation to France in return for national recognition.
The Haitian government agreed; payments began immediately. Members of the Cabinet were also valued because they had been enslaved people before independence.
Thus began the systematic destruction of the Republic of Haiti. The French government bled the nation and rendered it a failed state. It was a merciless exploitation that was designed and guaranteed to collapse the Haitian economy and society.
Haiti was forced to pay this sum until 1922 when the last instalment was made. During the long 19th century, the payment to France amounted to up to 70 per cent of the country's foreign exchange earnings.
Jamaica today pays up to 70 per cent in order to service its international and domestic debt. Haiti was crushed by this debt payment. It descended into financial and social chaos.
The republic did not stand a chance. France was enriched and it took pleasure from the fact that having been defeated by Haitians on the battlefield, it had won on the field of finance. In the years when the coffee crops failed, or the sugar yield was down, the Haitian government borrowed on the French money market at double the going interest rate in order to repay the French government.
When the Americans invaded the country in the early 20th century, one of the reasons offered was to assist the French in collecting its reparations.
The collapse of the Haitian nation resides at the feet of France and America, especially. These two nations betrayed, failed, and destroyed the dream that was Haiti; crushed to dust in an effort to destroy the flower of freedom and the seed of justice.
Haiti did not fail. It was destroyed by two of the most powerful nations on earth, both of which continue to have a primary interest in its current condition.
The sudden quake has come in the aftermath of summers of hate. In many ways the quake has been less destructive than the hate.
Human life was snuffed out by the quake, while the hate has been a long and inhumane suffocation - a crime against humanity.
During the 2001 UN Conference on Race in Durban, South Africa, strong representation was made to the French government to repay the 150 million francs.
The value of this amount was estimated by financial actuaries as US$21 billion. This sum of capital could rebuild Haiti and place it in a position to re-engage the modern world. It was illegally extracted from the Haitian people and should be repaid.
It is stolen wealth. In so doing, France could discharge its moral obligation to the Haitian people.
For a nation that prides itself in the celebration of modern diplomacy, France, in order to exist with the moral authority of this diplomacy in this post-modern world, should do the just and legal thing.
Such an act at the outset of this century would open the door for a sophisticated interface of past and present, and set the Haitian nation free at last.
***Sir Hilary Beckles is pro-vice-chancellor and Principal of the Cave Hill Campus, UWI.***
Monday, January 18, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
The Pearl of the Antilles
THIS IS A COMMENTARY FOR RADIO I WROTE IN 2004 ABOUT HAITI. I THINK MOST OF IT IS STILL APPLICABLE NOW, I WISH I COULD HAVE POSTED THE ACTUAL AUDIO,WITH THE SOUND EFFECTS.
The Pearl of the Antilles has been devalued,
The country that once brought France its greatest riches now staggers,
her back bent with shame as many watch and wonder why she even bothers to try to stand,
But now it's time to stop watching and hold out a hand,
To help to strengthen bones which have suffered years of arthritic pains,
Haiti, a country that spent most of its youth fighting for the rights of black people in the Western Hemisphere,
A country that gave many others in the Caribbean the inspiration to fight for freedom and stood as testimony that that freedom could be had,
Such a country cannot be allowed to be brought to her knees, her significance in history is too great for bystanders to watch her disintegrate.
CARICOM must intervene in whatever way possible,
What is the significance of CARICOM if it cannot help its members in a time of need,
What of being our brothers' keeper?
A country which rendered help to so many other Caribbean countries in the fight against slavery and colonialism cannot be ignored,
The fact is that, at this point, without outside help to start restoring Haiti from the core, Haiti will continue to struggle and fail at restoring order,
The interim government cannot restore order to Haiti,
Haiti has been affected by too many disasters which are not her own doing,
Hurricanes, disease, economic and political turmoil, the recent flooding in Gonaives, which left thousands homeless have been part of the bitter portion given Haiti.
Haiti is not capable at the moment of pulling herself up by her own bootstraps,because she has taken so much battering that even with the will, she cannot find a way.
Her neighbours, friends, brothers and sisters, must help her find that way,
taking in Haitian refugees may seem like a friendly and helpful gesture,
But who will continue to take in boatfuls of refugees?
Can this be done for Haiti's more than eight million population?
A different approach must be taken.
Haiti has the will, she still has the fighting spirit,
She is only in need of health care to sooth her aching, hurting body,
she needs food for strength and good sound advice to help her on the path to restoration.
What Haiti doesn't need is another military invasion and the use of force,
show her love, and stretch a helping hand.
It is being abandoned that has helped to perpetuate her problems,
Embargoes have been her fate, no one has wanted to associate themselves with her,
She was alone in her battle for freedom, has been alone in trying to maintain it, even in the face of major hardships.
Haiti is tired of being alone,
she needs friends that will step forward to help polish her and restore her to her former glory as the Pearl of the Antilles.
The Pearl of the Antilles has been devalued,
The country that once brought France its greatest riches now staggers,
her back bent with shame as many watch and wonder why she even bothers to try to stand,
But now it's time to stop watching and hold out a hand,
To help to strengthen bones which have suffered years of arthritic pains,
Haiti, a country that spent most of its youth fighting for the rights of black people in the Western Hemisphere,
A country that gave many others in the Caribbean the inspiration to fight for freedom and stood as testimony that that freedom could be had,
Such a country cannot be allowed to be brought to her knees, her significance in history is too great for bystanders to watch her disintegrate.
CARICOM must intervene in whatever way possible,
What is the significance of CARICOM if it cannot help its members in a time of need,
What of being our brothers' keeper?
A country which rendered help to so many other Caribbean countries in the fight against slavery and colonialism cannot be ignored,
The fact is that, at this point, without outside help to start restoring Haiti from the core, Haiti will continue to struggle and fail at restoring order,
The interim government cannot restore order to Haiti,
Haiti has been affected by too many disasters which are not her own doing,
Hurricanes, disease, economic and political turmoil, the recent flooding in Gonaives, which left thousands homeless have been part of the bitter portion given Haiti.
Haiti is not capable at the moment of pulling herself up by her own bootstraps,because she has taken so much battering that even with the will, she cannot find a way.
Her neighbours, friends, brothers and sisters, must help her find that way,
taking in Haitian refugees may seem like a friendly and helpful gesture,
But who will continue to take in boatfuls of refugees?
Can this be done for Haiti's more than eight million population?
A different approach must be taken.
Haiti has the will, she still has the fighting spirit,
She is only in need of health care to sooth her aching, hurting body,
she needs food for strength and good sound advice to help her on the path to restoration.
What Haiti doesn't need is another military invasion and the use of force,
show her love, and stretch a helping hand.
It is being abandoned that has helped to perpetuate her problems,
Embargoes have been her fate, no one has wanted to associate themselves with her,
She was alone in her battle for freedom, has been alone in trying to maintain it, even in the face of major hardships.
Haiti is tired of being alone,
she needs friends that will step forward to help polish her and restore her to her former glory as the Pearl of the Antilles.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Too Smart for God
“How can such a smart person believe such nonsense?”
That’s a question many atheists ask, especially when the person in question is someone society would normally consider intelligent, well-educated or even a free thinker in some cases. This scenario is actually quite mind boggling for the atheist who is sometimes disappointed a person they looked up to as ‘sensible’ actually believes such ‘nonsense’.
In the minds of many, logic and religion cannot coexist; you are either really gullible to believe in a god or you are smart and past such ‘low-level’ thinking. The smart man mouths off theories from Marx and others explaining how religion is an opiate for people desperate to explain their miserable lives. Many say it is merely a social construct designed to keep social order.
Those who believe in a god tend to reject these opinions, and in many cases are even offended by it. It’s been said that many people tend to flaunt their atheism like a badge of honour signaling how liberated they are, how smart and superior they are for managing to rise above the ‘murky’ waters of religion. They think many atheists are not as liberated as they think they are because they arrive at their position on religion not from in-depth study of the world’s belief systems, but just by the fact that they think they will appear to be intelligent by rejecting the existence of a god.
But it’s very hard to convince the atheist that their thinking on the subject of god and logic is wrong. After all, there is consensus among researchers that more intelligent people tend not to believe in religion. This is the result even when the researchers are Christian conservatives themselves, as even a 1995 Gallup poll corroborates these findings.
It is simple indeed: religion and the idea of god leaves many questions unanswered which a logical thinker is not prepared to accept by faith.
So are atheists mostly puffed up people too high on their so called intelligence that they can’t recognise the existence of god? Are they the silly ones considering that a vast majority of the world’s population actually believe in a supreme being? Or will the atheist one day be able to say “I told you so, god is just another fairytale character”?
Are you too smart for God?
That’s a question many atheists ask, especially when the person in question is someone society would normally consider intelligent, well-educated or even a free thinker in some cases. This scenario is actually quite mind boggling for the atheist who is sometimes disappointed a person they looked up to as ‘sensible’ actually believes such ‘nonsense’.
In the minds of many, logic and religion cannot coexist; you are either really gullible to believe in a god or you are smart and past such ‘low-level’ thinking. The smart man mouths off theories from Marx and others explaining how religion is an opiate for people desperate to explain their miserable lives. Many say it is merely a social construct designed to keep social order.
Those who believe in a god tend to reject these opinions, and in many cases are even offended by it. It’s been said that many people tend to flaunt their atheism like a badge of honour signaling how liberated they are, how smart and superior they are for managing to rise above the ‘murky’ waters of religion. They think many atheists are not as liberated as they think they are because they arrive at their position on religion not from in-depth study of the world’s belief systems, but just by the fact that they think they will appear to be intelligent by rejecting the existence of a god.
But it’s very hard to convince the atheist that their thinking on the subject of god and logic is wrong. After all, there is consensus among researchers that more intelligent people tend not to believe in religion. This is the result even when the researchers are Christian conservatives themselves, as even a 1995 Gallup poll corroborates these findings.
It is simple indeed: religion and the idea of god leaves many questions unanswered which a logical thinker is not prepared to accept by faith.
So are atheists mostly puffed up people too high on their so called intelligence that they can’t recognise the existence of god? Are they the silly ones considering that a vast majority of the world’s population actually believe in a supreme being? Or will the atheist one day be able to say “I told you so, god is just another fairytale character”?
Are you too smart for God?
Monday, August 17, 2009
I Hate Ignorant People!!!!!
I'm writing this post and I am extremely upset. Here I am minding my own business when my 'friend' (I'm still not sure if I should call anyone so ignorant my friend), bursts out that she doesn't understand the 'hype' over Jamaica's Independence or over the Emancipation of slaves.
To put this into context, Emancipation Day was celebrated on August 1 and marks the day black slaves were considered free men, the day when they would not have to toil under their masters' whip. The day when blacks could try to reclaim their dignity and stop being chattel to their white owners, mere animals created for nothing else but manual labour. Jamaica also celebrated its independence from Britain on August 6. Several events were held across the island to commemorate these two events.
So back to my ignorant 'friend', I could let it slide about the independence thing. Though I am fiercely patriotic, I can understand if people feel disillusioned by the fact that our country still has so many problems. Her Emancipation comment rocked me to the core though and I am seriously contemplating slashing her from my list of friends.
I mean how can you use the word 'hype' in the same sentence as Emancipation? I tried to explain to her that Emancipation is not about hype in the first place, and that secondly I thought she was ignorant for having the gall to be ungrateful that so many thousands of people died so that we could be free. In Jamaica here, many persons were hanged for starting the freedom uprisings. In the US people were lynched for having the audacity to be black and breathe the same air as whites.
Mark you, reflecting on Emancipation is not a time to be bitter and to hate whites, it's a time to celebrate the coming of age of the human race on a whole and the end of ignorance (which my 'friend' seems intent on perpetuating). Therefore, how can you even have the balls to after suggesting there is too much hype around Emancipation say you are not even sure we are better off being free? To me, that's an affront to our ancestors and shows that person is really better off being a slave, because, clearly that person does not deserve to walk among humans as equals, because while as a race we have not fulfilled our potential in several areas, the hope that our forefathers had when they fought for emancipation is still alive and the dreams of our forefathers can still be realised.
I don't even feel any way about being so harsh, anyone that ignorant does not deserve consideration. Anyone who even for a moment thinks that perhaps I would be better off in chains, chopping sugar cane or picking cotton cannot be my friend. Anyone who thinks being treated like an animal and being sold like goods could have any positive sides CANNOT be my friend. Anyone who thinks like this is certainly still a slave.
To put this into context, Emancipation Day was celebrated on August 1 and marks the day black slaves were considered free men, the day when they would not have to toil under their masters' whip. The day when blacks could try to reclaim their dignity and stop being chattel to their white owners, mere animals created for nothing else but manual labour. Jamaica also celebrated its independence from Britain on August 6. Several events were held across the island to commemorate these two events.
So back to my ignorant 'friend', I could let it slide about the independence thing. Though I am fiercely patriotic, I can understand if people feel disillusioned by the fact that our country still has so many problems. Her Emancipation comment rocked me to the core though and I am seriously contemplating slashing her from my list of friends.
I mean how can you use the word 'hype' in the same sentence as Emancipation? I tried to explain to her that Emancipation is not about hype in the first place, and that secondly I thought she was ignorant for having the gall to be ungrateful that so many thousands of people died so that we could be free. In Jamaica here, many persons were hanged for starting the freedom uprisings. In the US people were lynched for having the audacity to be black and breathe the same air as whites.
Mark you, reflecting on Emancipation is not a time to be bitter and to hate whites, it's a time to celebrate the coming of age of the human race on a whole and the end of ignorance (which my 'friend' seems intent on perpetuating). Therefore, how can you even have the balls to after suggesting there is too much hype around Emancipation say you are not even sure we are better off being free? To me, that's an affront to our ancestors and shows that person is really better off being a slave, because, clearly that person does not deserve to walk among humans as equals, because while as a race we have not fulfilled our potential in several areas, the hope that our forefathers had when they fought for emancipation is still alive and the dreams of our forefathers can still be realised.
I don't even feel any way about being so harsh, anyone that ignorant does not deserve consideration. Anyone who even for a moment thinks that perhaps I would be better off in chains, chopping sugar cane or picking cotton cannot be my friend. Anyone who thinks being treated like an animal and being sold like goods could have any positive sides CANNOT be my friend. Anyone who thinks like this is certainly still a slave.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
World Championship
OK, so this weekend I've been glued to my TV, heart pounding, anxiety mounting, but feeling on top of the world. This weekend was the start of the World Championships in Berlin, Germany. if you know anything of Jamaica you'll know we are athletics (esp track) fanatics....we also have the calibre athletes to justify our love of the sport.
Biggest treat today?
USAIN BOLT BROKE THE WORLD RECORD AGAIN!!!!!!
This means he has lowered the mark from 9.69 to 9.58...is that even conceivable? Also, my personal favourite, Asafa Powell, placed third in a race which saw him running the best in a long time. What can i say, I'm proud of my Jamaican boys.
Only negative to the 100m race was Tyson Gay cursing at the end as if he thought he would have won Bolt. I think it would have been more in keeping with the spirit of sports, if he enjoyed the moment and thanked God his name would be a part of history, after all he was in a history-making race. To make things worse, the guy ran the best race of his life, lowering the American record, running faster than he would have dreamt of running a year ago, yet he was too vexed to even celebrate his achievement. I really hate sore losers.
Anyway, I'm signing out now, cause i gotta rest so i can catch some more races tomorrow! two medals to down, many more to come!!!!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Sleeping on the Job
Since I'm at work, nodding off because I was on the phone for over 5 hours last night with my honey, and didn't get to bed until almost 5 a.m., I might as well just do a proper introduction of myself. Yeah I know, I have a profile page; but have you really looked on that measly one line that I have used to describe myself?
I think one of the things I'm proudest to be identified as is Jamaican. I know there is no rhyme or reason to being overly patriotic, especially when your country is poor, sometimes gets international headlines for wrong reasons (human rights violations, especially by the police; marijuana exports; murder rate; and a host of other undesirble things my countrymen get up to). But, on the whole, this country is full of passion, people are genuinely warm, the weather is heavenly, and most of all we know how to sing and dance even through the worst most depressing circumstances. Plus Jamaicans are hilarious, maybe in a later post I'll elaborate on some of the funny things that we laugh among ourselves about and regale you with some Jamaican expletives. haha!
Anyhoo, I'm a journalist who up to January this year worked for the leading Caribbean newspaper. I'm a trained radio broadcaster and have worked with two radio stations. I currently work in the government information service as a print reporter.
I'm also a student at the University of the West Indies, who is pretending to complete her masters in International Relations. My thesis focuses on international trade law, specifically dispute settlement at the World Trade Organisation.
I'm not very family oriented, but I am very close to one of my brothers. I have 4 brothers and four sisters by the way (yeah i know, that's a lot). I am the last child :)
Funny how you can't think of anything to say about yourself when you decide to write about youself. Just reminds me of one of the worst questions i've been posed: "Um so, tell me about yourself" Who the hell can actually respond to such a request?
As if my day at a boring job, couldn't get any worse; my housemate just called to tell me the power company has disconnected our electricity. It's so depressing too considering we just got around to calculating the bills this morning and she was supposed to pay them today. Just another thing when you procrastinate, now it's going to cost us more to get it reconnecetd. Not to menion it's so embarrassing having your lights cut off! YIKES!!!
Ever felt workday blues? Tell me so we can both feel miserable (lol). Also, what is one thing about yourself you are most proud of without any really tangible reason?
I think one of the things I'm proudest to be identified as is Jamaican. I know there is no rhyme or reason to being overly patriotic, especially when your country is poor, sometimes gets international headlines for wrong reasons (human rights violations, especially by the police; marijuana exports; murder rate; and a host of other undesirble things my countrymen get up to). But, on the whole, this country is full of passion, people are genuinely warm, the weather is heavenly, and most of all we know how to sing and dance even through the worst most depressing circumstances. Plus Jamaicans are hilarious, maybe in a later post I'll elaborate on some of the funny things that we laugh among ourselves about and regale you with some Jamaican expletives. haha!
Anyhoo, I'm a journalist who up to January this year worked for the leading Caribbean newspaper. I'm a trained radio broadcaster and have worked with two radio stations. I currently work in the government information service as a print reporter.
I'm also a student at the University of the West Indies, who is pretending to complete her masters in International Relations. My thesis focuses on international trade law, specifically dispute settlement at the World Trade Organisation.
I'm not very family oriented, but I am very close to one of my brothers. I have 4 brothers and four sisters by the way (yeah i know, that's a lot). I am the last child :)
Funny how you can't think of anything to say about yourself when you decide to write about youself. Just reminds me of one of the worst questions i've been posed: "Um so, tell me about yourself" Who the hell can actually respond to such a request?
As if my day at a boring job, couldn't get any worse; my housemate just called to tell me the power company has disconnected our electricity. It's so depressing too considering we just got around to calculating the bills this morning and she was supposed to pay them today. Just another thing when you procrastinate, now it's going to cost us more to get it reconnecetd. Not to menion it's so embarrassing having your lights cut off! YIKES!!!
Ever felt workday blues? Tell me so we can both feel miserable (lol). Also, what is one thing about yourself you are most proud of without any really tangible reason?
Monday, August 10, 2009
Happy Day
Today is one of those days that I get a glimpse of what I'd like for my life. Not necessarily what I did today, since I'm mostly staying home, chatting with a friend who is crashing with me a bit, listening to music and of course blogging. The most significant thing about today is that I can do anything I want to. It's my day off and I'm not bogged down by the demands of work. I don't have a boss to please, nor am I stressing about writing what is pleasing to my editor. I can do anything, write anything. This is what I want, freedom. I just haven't fully worked out how I'll make money, how I'll fill the hours and what I really want to do. I'm figuring it out though, you can see my journey on my other blog: http://oneonecocoa.wordpress.com
Two posts ago I pondered whether to make my blog more personal, rather than only discuss my opinions on particular issues I might be thinking about at the moment, I think the decision is that I'll make this blog a little more personal.
So, as a symbol of my keeping things close to home here, here's a text I sent my boyfriend today. Contrary to my last post I must be feeling pretty in love today. haha
I'm here wondering why I sometimes risk losing you for silly things or just for the sake of being stubborn when I am so in love with you and when losing you would be the worst thing that could happen to me. I'm going to try harder, I promise. I love you.
Do you think it is OK to want to make changes for your significant other? How far should you go? What should you NEVER do?
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