Despite his disdain for his compatriots and the memory of our Heroes of I Independence, the Caricom, in a cunning document, aims to extend Ariel Henry’s presence at the helm of the Haitian state indefinitely.
Editorial de Haïti-Observateur du mercredi 22 novembre 2023
Without realizing it, the country is in the process of losing the habit of venerating our heroes, on the occasion of the grandiose annual commemorations, throughout the Republic, of dates dedicated to the memory of the deeds that marked their passage on earth. The anniversary of Flag Day, on May 18, 1803; of the Battle of Vertières, on November 18, 1803; and of Haiti’s independence, on January 1st, 1804, practices, the discontinuation of which began under the presidency of Martelly and his Prime Minister Lamothe, continued under Jovenel Moïse, to become the norm under Ariel Henry, de facto Prime Minister/President, Haiti’s Supreme Chief.
Appointed to the Prime Minister’s office by the CORE Group syndicate of Western ambassadors in Port-au-Prince, he’s really an agent of the State Department. By his actions, the neurosurgeon Henry gives the impression that he’s fully committed to pursuing these anti-national projects, so many programs of the “Parti haïtien tèt kale” (PHTK), or Bald-Headed political party, that he inherited. In the process, he’s executing the task assigned to him by his bosses, on whom he depends for unconditional support in maintaining his hold to power. For them, it’s well worth it, because they couldn’t find a more reliable collaborator than Ariel Henry, a neurosurgeon-turned-Haiti’s top politician.
Although few people in Haiti are aware of the White Man’s plans for the de facto Prime Minister, the latter’s close foreign collaborators applaud him in all the excesses in which he indulges, as if he were performing a musical score, under the magic wand of Washington. Indeed, since the PHTK was installed, in 2011, at the National Palace with Michel Joseph Martelly in the saddle, things have gone awry. But the former First Lady of the United States and number one diplomat at the time, Hillary Clinton, got what she wanted, at all costs, to make Martelly Head of State. Thus began the campaign to wipe out the memory of our independence heroes.
Gradually, the citizens show less interest in the dates that traditionally remind us of the spirit of the warriors who immortalized themselves in the battles for our independence. No more venerating them. The first break with the usual festivities linked to Haiti’s independence and immortal freedom fighters came with Michel Martelly who, on the anniversary of the birth of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, the Father of our Homeland, did not make the annual pilgrimage to the cathedral at Marchand-Dessalines, the birthplace of the illustrious general. Since then, the anti-Haitian hero campaign has been in full swing.
All the national commemorative festivals traditionally held to celebrate the heroes of the war of independence and the exploits they accomplished are being forgotten. Forget also, the fervor, such enthusiasm shown by the population at these events during which the intellectual elites expressed their tributes to the heroes of independence in various forms. With Martelly’s slap at Haiti’s Father of independence at Marchand-Dessalines, this derogation has continued progressively with Jovenel Moïse, abandoning the traditional annual trip to Vertières, in the North, near Cap-Haitian, as part of the commemoration of the Battle of Vertières, on November 18, 1803. It was the same thing for Arcahaie, in the Western department, for Flag Day, on May 18, 1803; and, in Gonaïves, in the Artibonite, for the anniversary of Haiti’s independence on January 1st, 1804.
This is precisely the attitude displayed, once again this year, by Ariel Henry, turning a national event into an intimate festivity, with members of his government and friends enjoying power, just a handful of participants. The derogation, in regard to traveling to the historic sites has occurred without any legal or judicial formalities. The so-called recent leaders, whether President or de facto Prime Minister only exercise their whim. From one PHTK leader to the next, Michel Joseph Martelly, Jovenel Moïse and Ariel Henry, there’s no difference. Different executive heads, but the same project, the only thing constant being who’s ordering what.
Really, there’s no way associating the Haitian people with the desecration of Marchand-Dessalines, Arcahaie, Vertières, and Gonaïves. Thus, through his actions, the neurosurgeon can’t claim that he’s defending the interests of the Haitian people. We entertain no illusions in this regard. There’s no forgetting that Ariel Henry has been installed at the Prime Minister’s office to serve the causes of his bosses.
Indeed, it’s no secret that, notwithstanding the hypocrisy that characterizes relations among peoples, especially when it comes to states established by former slaves in relation to the nations making up the world of former colonies, the former are not held in high esteem. Even more so regarding the heroes of Haiti’s War of Independence, because through their feat, they had caused great harm to the former colonists.
The post-war conspiracy concocted against Haiti by France, in concert with the United States and other allies of the time, was aimed at impoverishing the world’s first Black Republic and, in all respect isolate the new country. For every time the name of Dessalines was mentioned, along with his military exploits in inflicting the unprecedented humiliation on Napoleon Bonaparte’s crack troops in their defeat of November 18, 1803, that had the effect of a dagger thrust into the heart of the French emperor.
If the generations of Haitians born in the years soon after the Vertières victory may have shunned certain advantages offered by the former colonists to erase the memory of our heroes and their military prowess, it is mortifying that those born in the 21st century have not hesitated in betraying our ancestors. In that light, the Haitian socio-political system has opened the door widely to certain mercenaries who have gained access to the reins of the Republic, to thwart Haiti’s progress.
To justify their actions in their desecration of historic sites at specific dates, those in charge blame the armed gangs, responsible for the ambient insecurity in Haiti that makes traveling, especially away from the capital, very hazardous. But are they not responsible for this state of affairs when they allow the proliferation of the armed bandits? Haven’t they failed to take the necessary measures to create the conditions required to give the Police adequate means to deal with the criminals? In the process, the armed gangs gradually overpowered the security forces.
Well-equipped and provided with the appropriate resources, the Police would be in a position to keep the criminals under control, as is normally the case in every civilized country. There’s no way explaining how the authorities have allowed the bandits to control about 90% of the districts in and surrounding the capital, as the United Nations has rightly pointed out.
Returning, just in time from an official trip of CARICOM leaders to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Ariel Henry delivered his speech marking the 220th anniversary of the Battle of Vertières, not in Cap-Haitian, in the North, but at the National Pantheon Museum (MUPANAH) in Port-au-Prince, on Saturday, November 18. That’s in keeping with his commitment to erase the memory of the heroes of independence from history.
But for the first time since he was installed at the Prime Minister’s office, he dared to make contradictory remarks vis-à-vis his bosses. Some analysts even believe he’s pulled off a miracle by calling for the rehabilitation of the Haitian Armed Forces (FAd’H,) something clearly opposed by the United States. As it is, the de facto Prime Minister thinks it’s necessary that security be reestablished to make possible free and democratic elections. Here in his own words: « It is essential to have a security climate to insure the holding of elections favorable to stability. » And he notes that the State is rather limited in resources needed to finance various communities in the country.
Nonetheless, Ariel Henry finally admits publicly that the FAd’H should be remobilized and properly equipped, besides reforming the National Police, the only means to defeat the armed gangs. After keeping silent for so long, regarding the FAd’H, undoubtedly not to raise the ire of the international community, here is Ariel Henry changing his stance. Nonetheless, doubts persist as to how independent he really is, following this late declaration that would indicate a departure from total obedience to the White Man! But being inherently the problem, he definitely can’t be part of the solution. In other words, take the way out!