April 20th 2025.
On April 17, French President Emmanuel Macron made a significant announcement that caught the attention of the world. He revealed the formation of a joint commission with Haiti, with the purpose of examining their shared history. This comes at a crucial time, as it coincides with the 200th anniversary of a historic agreement that has had lasting effects on both countries. The agreement, made after the Haitian Revolution, forced Haiti to pay France a staggering 150 million francs in reparations to former slaveholders.
Macron, in his announcement, acknowledged the unfairness of this decision. He recognized the injustice of a powerful nation like France forcing a newly independent one like Haiti to pay such a hefty sum. "This decision put a price on the liberty of a young nation, which from its birth was faced with the weight of history," he stated.
However, some, like Fritz Deshommes, the president of the Haitian National Committee on Restitution and Reparations, see this joint commission as a small step in the right direction. While he welcomes the effort, he also sees it as a delaying tactic that simply buys time and allows for a wait-and-see approach. "In reality, France has not shown any intention of directly and decisively addressing the issue of restitution," Deshommes remarked. He believes that France's acknowledgement of the original injustice and the need to improve relations between the two nations is not enough. He also pointed out that while France has recognized slavery as a crime against humanity, they have not taken any steps towards reparations for this crime. Deshommes believes that the fight for the restitution of the triple ransom of independence must continue and become more intense.
Macron, on his part, emphasized during his speech that France is ready to accept its share of responsibility in creating a painful memory for Haiti. He acknowledged the birth of Haiti as a result of a revolution that was in line with the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity of the French Revolution.
Others, like CARICOM secretary general, Dr. Carla Barnett, agree with Deshommes that more concrete measures need to be taken by France. She used the opening of the UN's Permanent Forum on People of African Descent on April 14th to make her case. "The negative economic and social effects of this historical injustice are painfully evident, and they have contributed to the current situation in Haiti," Barnett stated. She sees this anniversary as an opportunity to bring global attention and a deeper understanding of Haiti's struggles and to call for action to address the ongoing crises in the country.
Jean Mozart Feron, another member of the HNCRR, described the original agreement as an unjust ransom in his remarks to The Guardian. "This ransom has had a lasting impact on Haiti, plunging the country into economic dependency from which it has never fully recovered," Feron stated. He believes that the debt has hindered the development of Haiti and diverted resources that could have been used for education and infrastructure. Feron also highlighted the effect of this debt on how Haiti is perceived and treated on the international stage, with little regard for the country's history of economic exploitation.
Despite the ongoing crises in Haiti, Feron and the HNCRR remain committed to working closely with civil society to advise the Haitian government on how to use the money from the reparations in a transparent and responsible manner. This is their way of ensuring that the debt is not in vain and that it benefits the people of Haiti, who have suffered for far too long. This is just one facet of the complex and triumphant history of Haiti, which is the focus of a five-book series by a Haitian author.
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