[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 71 (Tuesday, May 2, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H4444-H4445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


    HAITIAN POLICY--ANOTHER WASTE OF UNITED STATES TAXPAYERS DOLLARS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 4, 1995, the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Goss] is recognized 
during morning business for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, on April 11, the Associated Press ran a story 
that I believe bears noting: ``Postponed Elections, Unrest, Could 
Prolong U.N. Mission.'' That one small headline speaks volumes. Keep in 
mind that there are more than 2,400 American troops on the ground in 
Haiti still and that we have already spent in excess of $1.4 billion on 
that small Caribbean island. Although the May update from the 
administration on the situation in Haiti is not available yet, I think 
we all understand that the possibility of a longer mission--even under 
the auspices of the United Nations--equals more American tax dollars 
and more exposure for our troops. With that possibility clearly on the 
table, perhaps the President will refocus his attention on Haiti for a 
moment to give us a candid answer to this candid question: Despite all 
of the money, time, and manpower the United States has already poured 
into Haiti, are we really headed for a longer term commitment than 
February 1996? It seems to me that we are. April voter registration was 
supposed to bring May elections to Haiti and Haitians. But those 
elections, originally planned for last December, have once again been 
pushed back--this time to the end of June. The longer that deadline 
slips, the longer Haiti goes without its 700 local elected officials 
and without a parliament--and that does not bode well for the growth of 
Haitian democracy.
  General crime and lawlessness aside for the moment, politics in Haiti 
are becoming an increasingly dangerous pursuit. From the murder of 
former Deputy Eric Lamonthe on March 7, to the gunman's assault on 
Philip Stevenson as he departed a Panpra Party meeting on March 14, to 
the
 brutal assassination of Madame Bertin on March 28, to violent clash on 
April 17 between the supporters and opponents of one political 
candidate in the city of Cap-Hatien--it is clear that, in Haiti, it 
pays to keep your head down and your hat out of the political ring. In 
addition to these personal attacks, machete and rock-wielding mobs have 
launched a series of attacks on electoral offices in La Chapelle, 
Petite-Riviere, Saint-Michel and Grande Saline, to name just the 
Artibonite Valley hotspots. Clearly, this is not what an elections 
process is supposed to be about.

  Of course, violence is not the only thing threatening to disrupt 
elections. Voter registration is behind schedule and reports from 
politicians, law enforcement and electoral officials alike indicate 
that voter cards are being sold to the highest bidder. But we should 
return to the issue of general lawlessness as well. Jobless Haitians 
who once lined up peacefully outside of outside of United Nations and 
United States military headquarters have begun staging aggressive, 
impassioned jobs protests. Just last week in the market at Tete-Boeuf, 
20 gunmen fired randomly into crowds and robbed bystanders in an effort 
to gain control of that small commerce center. United States businesses 
in Haiti report that smuggling and general lack of authority mean that 
legitimate businesses cannot prosper. Additionally, although I do not 
want to overstate the significance of the numbers, there are Haitians 
who are still feeling desperate enough to get into boats and take to 
the seas. 
[[Page H4445]] The Coast Guard has intercepted several boatloads this 
month with more than 240 Haitians on board and bound for Florida. 
Reports from Turks Caicos indicate that they have enlisted the help of 
the United States Coast Guard to stem the increased flow of Haitians to 
their shores. These are Haitians who have been mislead and told that 
they were being taken to either the Bahamas or the United States or 
that the they could get into the United States via centers in Turks 
Caicos. With the Artistide government's recent announcement of their 
adamant opposition to negotiating another repatriation agreement with 
the United States, there are clearly some important issues to be dealt 
with in the coming months. Congress returns now to begin the budget 
cycle. As we are looking for ways to maximize the benefit of every tax 
dollar we spend, I believe that the President owes this Congress and 
Americans across the Nation some answers about where we stand in Haiti, 
where we are going and how much it is all going to cost before this 
episode is over and done. Most Americans agree our present Haitian 
policy is another waste of United States taxpayer's dollars.


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