[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 96 (Friday, July 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1503-E1504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HAITI--THE NEED FOR BALANCED ENGAGEMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 14, 2005

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, events in Haiti over the last few months 
have been quite discouraging to those who seek stability and prosperity 
in that country.
  A year has passed since the forced removal of President Jean Bertrand 
Aristide, the Nation's democratically elected leader. At the time, 
members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), as well as members of 
the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) regional block lamented and 
criticized Aristide's removal.
  Not only was Aristide's removal illegal, but it served to alienate 
those portions of the Haitian population which supported him, and 
further

[[Page E1504]]

wounded their faith in democracy. This disillusionment and alienation 
is a cornerstone of the current situation in the country.
  Without question, conditions in the Haiti are worse since Aristide's 
removal, and continue to deteriorate. Since last September, more than 
700 people have been killed. At the July General Meeting of CARICOM, 
Secretary General, Dr. Edwin Carrington voiced the organization's 
concern over the deteriorating conditions in the country, as it made 
the success of October elections unlikely.
  Indeed, the electoral picture continues to be discouraging. Out of a 
total of 4.5 million eligible voters only 150,000 have actually 
registered, with supporters of Aristide's Lavalas Party--a large 
portion of the electorate--refusing to participate. There is also 
widespread criticism about the disbursement of promised aid for Haiti 
from international donors.
  A recent editorial in the publication CaribNews argues that CARICOM, 
the CBC, and the Bush Administration should all increase their 
involvement in finding a solution to the Haitian crisis. While CARICOM 
and the CBC still remain disturbed by the removal of Haiti's 
democratically elected government, there is recognition that the 
situation in Haiti demands our increased engagement.
  The Bush Administration has continuously argued that the interim 
government in Haiti be allowed to prepare for elections, with the 
collaboration of the UN MINSTAH force. The CBC and CARICOM have waited 
warily, but the situation is getting worse. The U.S. Administration has 
seemed to place the blame squarely on Aristide/Lavalas supporters, but 
that is neither an accurate or fair assessment of the complex mix of 
factors which combine to create the current Haitian reality. Many 
groups are responsible for the instability.
  However, among most experts, there is very little disagreement that 
the root causes of Haiti's problems are economic. According to a recent 
report by the International Monetary Fund, economic conditions in Haiti 
deteriorated significantly during the early 2000s. The economic 
deterioration has been exacerbated by the political turmoil and 
devastating floods of 2004 which led to a contraction of 3.75 per cent 
of GDP. This has resulted in economic stagnation, high inflation, and 
widespread unemployment.
  Economic and trade development is the overarching need in Haiti, and 
will remain so, with or without elections in the fall. CARICOM, the 
CBC, and the Bush Administration are all well placed to ensure that 
such development takes place. There has been work towards that end 
already.
  Separately, members and supporters of the Lavalas Party must be 
persuaded to trust the system and participate in the transitional 
process. The problem is that major stakeholders such as the interim 
Haitian administration, the UN, and the Bush Administration have no 
credibility with Lavalas/Artistide supporters. The actions and 
positions of all three have at times been very counterproductive to 
national unity. This is another avenue where CARICOM and the CBC can 
become engaged.
  CBC and CARICOM may be the only groups with enough credibility to 
compel Pro-Aristide supporters to enter the process. I believe there is 
growing recognition of this fact. In the meantime, it is my hope that 
the Administration will take a more balanced and objective approach in 
helping Haiti to find the peace and prosperity that it deserves.

                   [From the CaribNews, July 5, 2005]

 Why The Black Caucus, The Bush White House and CARICOM Should Become 
                            Engaged In Haiti

       The headlines rarely recall Haiti's glorious past when it 
     defeated France's mighty army in 1804 and emerged as the 
     first Black republic in the Western Hemisphere.
       Sadly, they certainly don't call to mind the Caribbean 
     nation's rich cultural heritage.
       Instead, they draw international attention on a daily basis 
     to what U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel in an interview with 
     this newspaper on Monday quite correctly called the country's 
     ``pain and suffering over such a long period of time.''
       Some example of recent headlines:
       ``Gunfire erupts as New Haitian Ministers Take Office in 
     Port au Prince.'' Boniface Alexandre, the country's interim 
     President was delivering a speech at a ceremony installing 
     four new cabinet ministers when heavy gunfire erupted near 
     the Presidential Palace.
       ``Foreign troops likely needed in Haiti for years.'' A 
     story built on the words of United Nations Under-Secretary-
     General, Jean-Marie Guehono, who told a news agency ``Haiti 
     will need (UN) peacekeepers so long that there's not a 
     credible, effective police and judiciary.''
       ``Haitian refugees rescued from sinking Boat off St. 
     Maarten.'' Authorities in the Dutch dependent territory 
     rescued 63 migrants from Haiti from a sailboat that was 
     sinking off the island's coast.
       Each story paints its own picture of a nation in the throes 
     of yet another disaster, a chapter of anarchy, death and a 
     further descent into further tragic circumstances, if that's 
     possible.
       Hence, Congressman Rangel's sensible offer to use his 
     considerable influence on Capitol Hill in a search for a 
     solution to Haiti's apparent intent to destroy what's left of 
     the 200 year old nation.
       Yes, he is right to try to bring together the U.S. 
     Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, and CARICOM leaders who 
     have behaved like Pontius Pilate, washing their hands of a 
     troubled neighbor which seems unable these day to pursue 
     peace and prosperity.
       The unfortunate and unnecessary ouster of Aristide and the 
     installation of interim President Boniface Alexandre and 
     stopgap Prime Minister, Gerard Latortue were the handiwork of 
     the Bush Administration which hated Jean Bertrand Aristide 
     with such a passion that it even sided with convicted 
     murderers, drug traffickers and violent criminals to get rid 
     of him.
       Having put a gun to Aristide's head and forced him to flee, 
     the President said he was ``kidnapped'' and taken into exile, 
     Washington has shown little interest in helping the country 
     out of the quagmire.
       It has left the mess to the UN to clean up while starving 
     the country of the hundreds of millions pledged by the 
     international community to aid re-development and re-
     habilitation.
       It's a crying shame that the Bush White House, an architect 
     of the Western Hemisphere's Democratic Charter, would turn 
     around and blast holes into the document, thus making the 
     whole exercise nothing more than a sham, a public relations 
     exercise that was empty of any real morality.
       Clearly, Rangel, a decent public figure, should pursue his 
     idea of reaching out to CARICOM and to Rice, not to mention 
     Haitians who want to see their country move forward 
     economically.
       An astute and experienced lawmaker, Rangel is fully aware 
     that the task would not be easy. But it is worth a try.
       He also knows and was the first to point out that he 
     couldn't achieve his goal by working alone. The Congressional 
     Black Caucus, all 43 members in the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate would have to bring their collective influence 
     to the effort.
       ``I would be glad to get the 43 members of the 
     Congressional Black Caucus to support anything that makes 
     sense to stabilize the government of Haiti,'' was the way 
     Rangel put it.
       Yes, we, like Rangel, are aware that others have tried and 
     failed but we have a special responsibility to be unrelenting 
     in our pursuit of reconciliation.
       For without it, we would stand accused of acting like Nero 
     who played the fiddle while Rome was burning.
       Rangel and the other members of the Congressional Black 
     caucus have the credibility and the interest to act as honest 
     brokers. CARICOM too must be involved in the search for 
     peace. It may have been justified in criticizing LaTortue for 
     his role in the tragedy now unfolding in his country. And it 
     has already made its point by declining to reinstate Haiti 
     into the community until free and fair elections are held.
       But staying on the sidelines while the country moves closer 
     and closer to civil war is not really an option.

                          ____________________