Haiti has been a poor country since 1804. It appears that Haiti has succeeded in installing a working government with elections, a legislature, courts, police and fair laws, but the population now has too many armed criminal gangs overwhelming the police in Port-au-Prince.
Haiti
was able to increase its arable land from 28.3% in 1993 to 43.8% in 2010. But
arable land decreased to 36.3% in 2019.
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.ARBL.ZS?locations=HT
First claimed by Spain in 1492 when Christopher Columbus landed in Haiti, the nation was then ceded to France in 1665. With colonization came the slave trade.
While Haiti was economically profitable during this era—producing 60 percent of the world’s coffee exports and 40 percent of sugar exported to Europe in the 1780s—few Haitians saw any of the material benefits of this economic success.
Haiti slaves revolted in 1791 and became independent in 1804, but the revolt destroyed the island and war reparations paid by Haiti to France from 1825 to 1947 impoverished the country. Coffee and sugar were soon provided by Brazil and other South American countries. With no investment and no real leaders, Haiti continued to fail.
Haiti currently produces bananas corn, sweet potatoes, rice and coffee. Laws allow Haitians to own land, but theft and vandalism has been rampant. Farm owners have their tractors stolen and water wells damaged. Criminals organized into gangs and the coalition of these gangs is what Haiti is now experiencing.
Haiti mostly exports clothing, scrap metal, vegetable oils, dates and cocoa. Haiti's main exports partner is United States, accounting for over 80 percent of total exports.
In 2021, Haiti’s President was assassinated by foreign mercenaries,
mostly from Columbia. Several were arrested. Gang violence increased in 2021.
Haiti’s Prime Minister Claude Joseph became President and asked the UN and US
to send troops to reduce the violence, but these requests were ignored. He also
called for elections in 2021 and handed the reins to Prime Minister Ariel Henry
in 2021.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Jovenel_Mo%C3%AFs
Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced his resignation following a meeting of regional Caribbean leaders on Monday, bowing to the inevitable as law and order in the country collapsed and international pressure grew for him to step aside.
In Henry’s place, a
transitional council will be established and endowed with some powers of the
presidency – including the ability to name a new interim prime minister. The
resulting government would be expected to eventually hold elections in the
country for a complete political reset.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/12/americas/haiti-gangs-prime-minister-analysis-intl/index.html
Comments
Lawlessness is the problem in Haiti. The Transitional Council needs to help Haiti put an end to their gang problems. Haiti also needs affordable electricity, working wells and a population that doesn’t steal from their neighbors. They need to restore their arable land and use mechanization to improve their agricultural productivity.
Literacy in Haiti is 61%. Families need to home-school where they can. Haiti’s GDP was $33 billion in 2023. Per Capita GDP is $631 per year. The average household income is $250 per year. Haiti’s population was 11,724,763 in 2023. Half the population lives in rural areas. Haiti was devastated by an earthquake in 2010 and the death toll was 300,000.
According to DeSantis Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
officers within the past couple weeks stopped the vessel near Sebastain Inlet
that was carrying 25 people from Haiti. On board the boat, officers found
drugs, guns and night vision gear, DeSantis said.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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