Par Patrick Prézeau Stephenson
Dear compatriots,
At a time when our country is facing immense challenges and worrying political fragmentation, it is crucial to remember the need to transcend the social, political and economic barriers that divide us. Today, more than ever, Haiti needs a Sacred Union, an alliance based on a project of societal transformation aimed at building a just, equitable and prosperous nation.
Since the fall of the dictatorship in 1986, we have witnessed scattered attempts at change, often hampered by opportunistic alliances and a lack of clear vision. Yet we must recognize that such alliances, based on immediate interests rather than a common vision, have only perpetuated the poverty of our politics and hampered our progress.[1].
It is time to break with this cycle of fragmentation and disunity, it is time to put an end to the “Se tou pam”. We must join forces around a common project, a project that transcends divisions and that coherently addresses the problems we face. The Manifesto L’Appel du Lambi is an example of what such a project could be. This manifesto offers a deep analysis of Haiti’s major challenges and offers clear and coherent solutions for a national reconstruction based on the values of social justice, sustainable development and citizen participation. [2].
Our neighbor the Dominican Republic did the same, at the end of the Trujillo regime, in 1961, a group of intellectuals and businessmen concocted the “Manifesto of Santiago” which still today guides major national decisions regardless of the party in power. The effects of this policy are striking: Dr. Ruolz Ariste compares Haiti to the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola, using various socio-economic indicators. The figures are shocking: life expectancy in Haiti is 64 years compared to 74 in the Dominican Republic; per capita income is $1,272 compared to $8,282; the unemployment rate is 13.8% compared to 5.9%; the infant mortality rate is 51.8 per 1,000 live births compared to 24.7; the percentage of malnourished is 48.2% compared to 5.5%. and the literacy rate is 61.7% versus 93.8%. These disparities underscore not only the challenges Haiti faces but also the potential successes it could achieve with effective governance. [3].
The Lambi Call is a serious attempt to take politics out of the poverty of politics. It articulates a vision of society where political institutions are not just instruments of power, but tools of social change. It proposes public policies based on a deep understanding of the social and economic dynamics of our country.
However, a manifesto alone is not enough. It is up to all of us, as committed citizens, to mobilize and support these initiatives. We must overcome our political, economic and social differences to build a better Haiti together. We must work towards a Sacred Union that unites all the vital forces of the nation around a common social project.
We therefore call on all stakeholders – political leaders, economic actors, civil society leaders and citizens from all walks of life – to join this Sacred Union. Together, we can restore meaning and direction to our political commitment. Together, we can transform our country and offer a better future to our children.
Let us not let our differences divide us. Let us unite for the good of our country and work together to build a just, equitable and prosperous Haiti.
With hope and determination,
Patriotically
Patrick Prézeau Stephenson
References
[1] Lyonel Trouillot 2024| Poverty of politics and politics
[2] Sicard, Gregory, et Patrick Prézeau Stephenson, eds., 2024 . The Manifesto The Call of the Lambi.Haiti: https://shorturl.at/zqmnM
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[3] Ariste, Rowles, PhD. 2021. From Heroes to Zeros: Reversing Haiti’s Downfall
https://www.elsie.news/2021/03/de-heros-a-zeros-inverser-la-degringolade-en-haiti-par-ruolz-ariste-phd.html
Media Contact Patrick Prézeau Stephenson: Editor [email protected]
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