Hti: On democracy

This is an excerpt from an article, written by Governor Jeb Bush (R-FL), which appeared in the Washington Post, Tuesday, March 23, 2004. It begins thus:

Florida is home to more than 300,000 Haitian immigrants. We have watched the painful struggle in Haiti over the past 10 years, as Jean-Bertrand Aristide squandered his opportunity to build a foundation for progress. Democracy means more than elections. It means respecting the rule of law and supporting a vibrant, robust civil society. Aristide destroyed these principles in Haiti and replaced them with corruption and violence. Groups such as the Congressional Black Caucus, who claim to support democracy yet focus on Aristide's election, exacerbate his betrayal of the Haitian people.
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The first step will be creating order. The reforms needed to rebuild Haiti are not possible without order and security to protect the people during the process. The security presence established by the United States, France, Chile and Canada averted the bloodbath predicted by critics in the wake of Aristide's departure. The U.N. Security Council decision to deploy a multinational interim force in Haiti will help maintain order as will the peacekeeping force expected in 90 days. It is imperative that the United States and the rest of the world continue security support during this volatile time.

There must also be a focus on developing the democratic functions required to create a successful civil society. Boniface Alexandre's appointment as interim president was dictated by the succession procedure outlined in Haiti's constitution. This reliance on the rule of law is a marked change for Haitian leadership, and it demonstrates the power of a civil society to use these institutions to move forward out of chaos. With U.S. support, Haiti can build the durable institutions it needs for a true, sustainable democracy.

We must also focus on the economic development required for Haiti to turn its new found hope into hard earned progress. The Haiti Economic Recovery Opportunity Act of 2003, sponsored by Florida Rep. E. Clay Shaw, will help Haiti create the cycle of investment and job growth that will be vital to its future. This type of aid will yield the highest return for the people of Haiti over the long term.

Elections do not by themselves constitute a democracy, else Iraq under Saddam Hussen, who had 96%+ victories at the polls, would have been so regarded. Instead, a democracy is a set of institutions which must be present and operative in order to have a healthy society. Absent rule of law and a civil society, there is no true democracy, and talk of constitutional process and rule of law mean nothing because they remain unregarded by those in power.Such was the case in Haiti, and such is the case in Venezuela today. The three step plan outlined here by Gov. Bush -- re-establishment of order and security; restoration of a civil society; and, economic development are necessary keys to Haiti's successful development as a nation. Caricom would do well to overlook its pique over the intemperate remarks of Gerard Latortue and do what it can to help Haiti achieve viable nationhood.