Ja: Haitians gotta get their act together

The circumstances surrounding the demise of Jean-Bertrand Aristide and the current wave of instability in Haiti are regrettable. While one cannot overlook the seriousness inherent in the "Sunday Morning Diplomacy", or the dangerous precedent it could set for emerging democracies, one has to be careful not to sidestep the real issues affecting the vast majority of Haitians. It must begin to resonate among the Haitian people that there is very little to be gained from these frequent coup d'états. They must understand also that with each coup comes 10 years of regression and that it is the poor who suffer most during these uprisings. Those who espouse the view that change is best effected through overthrows had better revisit the history of such in Haiti. There are deep-seated social origins to the current political crisis that must be exposed in an honest and sensitive manner.

Fundamentally, a huge part of what is taking place in Haiti is influenced by misguided passions. Simply put, there is too little passion for the democratisation of the political system, and too much passion for, and expectations of, the leader. If Haiti continues on this path, then its future as a free and thriving society is uncertain. It is regrettable that the Haitian people have allowed thugs to rob them of a unique opportunity, which could enable them to begin to enjoy a stable and democratic society. The onus is now on Haitians to pull together, to work hard to strengthen and to build a free and prosperous society, based on democratic values.
....
The socio-economic and political realities in Haiti are frightening and efforts must be made, led by the Haitian people themselves, to bring about significant amelioration.

Read the rest.