T&T: Peace, no peace

The plan, proposed to Haitian rebels by US Secretary of State Colin Powell, entails a three-party commission to appoint a new prime minister and a government of national unity, with President Aristide remaining in office.

Some kind of refereeing or oversight role is envisaged for external interests. This is advisable, given the clear likelihood that the forces for and against Mr Aristide may be unable to work together in any framework.

It is nonetheless an ambitious plan, calling for parliamentary elections this year and presidential elections in 2006.

Addressing two hotly controversial issues, the plan also provides for changing the leadership of the police and for some agreed procedure for protests and rallies.

The U.S.-Caricom plan [Even though the editorialist says Caricom has no role in this, the Bush Administration has indicated that it is in dialogue with Caribbean leaders.] is predicated on the notion that there can be amity between both parties. What is absent is the understanding that the source of the problem may not have to do with politics but with voodoo and betrayal. As such, it is highly unlikely that the Opposition would be willing to share power with Aristide. Furthermore, who is the new prime minister who will be appointed, and of whom will the "government of national unity" be comprised? Both Aristide and the rebels have shed the blood of innocent Haitians; one would imagine that that would disqualify either groups from ruling or continuing to rule.

It is noteworthy that Powell and Caricom recognizes the need for oversight by external parties; however, the US-Caricom group are overly ambitious in their desire to have elections in 2004 and 2006. That Haiti has elections does not mean that Haiti is stabilized or that the situation which exists now will not arise in the immediate future. As long as Haiti is willing to practise voodoo politics, then Haiti will remain unstable, and gun, machete, and blood will become the Haitian way of government change.

That is unacceptable, for Haiti is capable of better. What Haiti needs is extended oversight and deep level social change such that voodoo politics is no longer the norm and voodoo no longer the national religion. Then Haiti might stand a chance.