[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 60 (Friday, May 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4260-S4261]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 HAITI

  Mr. DeWINE. Madam President, let me at this point turn to another 
topic, which I believe is very timely. It has to do with a meeting that 
President Clinton is having tomorrow.
  Madam President, President Clinton will be meeting tomorrow with 
President Preval of Haiti. This is a very important meeting. It is 
important because Haiti is at a crossroads and the United States needs 
to provide all the leadership it can to help Haiti choose the right 
path. In view of this important meeting, I think it is important to 
review Haiti's situation. I have visited the country of Haiti four 
times in the last 2 years, most recently just this past month. I have 
done so to examine the conditions there and to find out about the 
progress being made by U.S. policies in regard to that country.
  Let me begin, if I could, by talking about the economy. The economy 
is today, as it has been for many years, to put it bluntly, in a 
shambles. Unemployment--no one knows how high the unemployment is, but 
it is said to be running at about a 65 percent rate. Privatization has 
yet to occur, but it is essential. It must occur if Haiti is to 
recover. While it has not occurred yet, the good news is the Haitian 
Government has announced a calendar for privatization, something we had 
not seen before the last several months. There is a calendar, there is 
a schedule. Everyone from President Preval, through the president of 
Haiti's central bank, to members of the legislature, all personally 
assured me that this privatization calendar will be maintained, it will 
be met. Privatization will, in fact, occur, they tell me, and 
guaranteed to me, while I was there, that this would happen.
  Let me say, for the good of the people of that country, this 
privatization simply must begin to take place. The people of Haiti have 
to have jobs. They need hope. They are not going to have jobs, they are 
not going to have hope unless privatization begins, because it is only 
with privatization that they will be able to get the economy moving 
again. It is only by privatization that the climate will be created and 
the right signals will be sent to the world so the world community will 
begin to invest in Haiti. Promises will not create jobs. The people of 
Haiti have been fed on promises for two centuries. Only action will 
create jobs and only action will start to break this cycle of despair.
  This privatization is important for basic economic reasons, but it is 
also

[[Page S4261]]

essential for the preservation of democracy, a goal for which this 
country risked American lives and has already spent hundreds and 
hundreds of millions of dollars. For democracy to survive in Haiti, 
people need to see real improvement in the lives of their families, of 
their children, of their loved ones. Real improvement in their lives 
will only come with privatization. If democracy is to survive, it is 
not enough to have elections. People have to have something to eat as 
well. Elections are just not enough and people know that. The turnout 
in the recent legislative elections in Haiti was less than 10 percent. 
I believe we have to view that as a vote of no confidence in the 
progress being made by the Haitian Government. Clearly Haiti needs to 
turn it around. They need, if I can use the term--they need some 
victories. All politicians need victories. The Government of Haiti has 
to have some victories. They need to take the kind of action that will 
inspire confidence in their common future, the kind of confidence that 
is a prerequisite for economic success. The way to do this is to send 
the right message to the rest of the world. That message is that Haiti 
is serious about participating in the global economy. Only by doing 
this, by doing what is necessary to participate in the rising tide of 
international growth, can Haiti hope to spark a real economic upturn.
  The first privatization is scheduled for this July. They first start 
with cement factories and the flour mills. The schedule further calls 
for, in November, the Haitian Popular Bank to privatize; in December, 
the National Port Authority; in January, the airport and the National 
Bank of Credit; finally, in February, the telephones and in March the 
electric company. When I was in Haiti last month I stressed to my hosts 
that they must act on this plan. Frankly, no one in Congress was going 
to believe what they said or be convinced that they were serious until, 
actually, some action took place.

  I have also spoken to President Clinton about this matter, and I have 
asked the President, when he meets with President Preval tomorrow, to 
stress the importance of this privatization, to make sure the President 
of Haiti understands our very legitimate concern that this 
privatization really take place.
  Madam President, another key area in which Haiti needs to follow 
through is the investigation of the political murders. Palace security 
forces are alleged to have killed two prominent opposition politicians, 
Mr. Fleurival and Reverend Leroy. In response to these murders, the 
Government of Haiti suspended the chief of palace security, they 
suspended his deputy and seven Presidential Security Unit guards who 
were allegedly at the scene.
  The Haitian Government needs to send the strongest possible message 
that this kind of subversion of democracy, murder of political 
opponents, will simply not be tolerated. There is a reasonable chance 
the Leroy case will be solved, but only if there is adequate leadership 
from the top of the Haitian political system. In my view, this is a 
test case of the rule of law, one that President Clinton must take up 
with President Preval at their meeting tomorrow.
  In other areas, Haiti is making real and measurable progress. One 
such area is the civilian police. In my visit to Haiti, I met again 
with United States police officers who are helping retrain the Haitian 
police. These are Haitian-born, Creole-speaking United States citizens 
on leave from their jobs as city police officers in this country. They 
come from cities such as Boston--I see Senator Kennedy on the floor. I 
met with a number of those police officers from Boston. They come from 
New York. They come from Miami. They are veterans, and they are 
mentoring these inexperienced, young Haitian police recruits.
  Madam President, nobody expected miracles from this training program, 
but they are making slow but solid progress. This is a program that 
works. I am glad the State Department has responded positively to my 
urging that the number of United States advisers be doubled. That has 
taken place, and we are now up to the number of 49. Frankly, I believe 
it is in our national interest to again significantly increase the 
number of these dedicated United States police officers who are serving 
in Haiti. I met with these advisers during my recent visit. I was 
gratified by what I saw. They are doing an excellent job and they need 
our continuing support. These advisers, I believe, are America's signal 
to the Haitian people that we will help them in the difficult process 
of building the rule of law in their country.
  I, later today, will continue to discuss the situation in Haiti. At 
that time I intend to talk about the agricultural situation and several 
other suggestions that I have that I believe will help the situation 
there.
  I believe, in conclusion for now, the meeting the President of the 
United States is having tomorrow with President Preval is a crucial 
meeting. I believe Haiti is at a crossroads. I believe it is important 
for our country to continue to work internally in this country to 
develop a bipartisan foreign policy in regard to Haiti. But, 
ultimately, it is abundantly clear that, no matter what we do, the 
important players are really the Haitian politicians, Haitian 
Government officials, and the Haitian people. Our message to President 
Preval and to the Haitian people must simply be this: We can and we 
will help you, but the destiny of your country really lies in your own 
hands.
  Madam President, I will turn to this later in the day. I also will 
have the opportunity, later, to discuss the comptime and flextime bill.
  I do see my colleague from Massachusetts on the floor, so at this 
time I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts is recognized.

                          ____________________