By Bobb Rousseau, PhD,
To this day, I struggle to understand why so many in the Haitian diaspora believe the most effective way to contribute to Haiti is by being elected to office or appointed to a high-ranking government position. This belief, however well-intentioned, is less about service and more about status. And it’s why I support the position that “diaspora pa ladan l” when it comes to eligibility for political office, regardless of whether the individual holds dual citizenship.
This is not a critique of the diaspora’s value. Haitians abroad are essential in remittances, business investment, education, and advocacy. Their perspectives and expertise can, and should help shape Haiti’s future. However, holding public office is not simply about qualifications. It’s about presence, accountability, and a deep understanding of national realities. These things cannot be lived through WhatsApp chats, annual visits, or long-distance love.
A dangerous assumption is at the heart of the campaign to amend Haiti’s constitution: that living abroad equips someone with a superior capacity to lead the nation. This assumption is both arrogant and disconnected. No amount of degree or diaspora accolades can substitute for lived experience in a fragile state where politics is survival and leadership is tested not in theory but on the ground through crisis, scarcity, and instability.
The push to change constitutional restrictions on diaspora eligibility often comes dressed in patriotic rhetoric, but too often, it is driven by ambition, not altruism. We must ask: Is the goal truly to serve Haiti, or to be remembered as the one who came back to “save” it?
Amending our constitution to accommodate this desire is not progressive but dangerous. It opens the door to personal agendas and sets a precedent that weakens the meaning of national responsibility. Haiti needs leaders who are not only Haitian by birth or blood but also by daily presence, those who are embedded in the struggle, not insulated from it.
This is not to say the diaspora has no role in governance. On the contrary, Haitians abroad should be encouraged to serve as advisors, investors, partners, and bridge-builders. Their influence is welcome and valuable. However, holding political power is different from offering political counsel.
Constitutional eligibility does not reflect intelligence, patriotism, or good intentions. It is a matter of direct accountability to the people who bear the consequences of each law, policy, and political failure.
Haiti does not need saviors flying in from above. It needs grounded, committed leadership that grows from the soil of its challenges. If diaspora members want to help, and I believe many genuinely do, they should do so in ways that don’t require rewriting the rules for their benefit.
Let us protect the integrity of our institutions. Let us honor the sacrifice of those who never left. And let us redefine leadership not by the passports we hold but by the responsibility we’re willing to carry, day in and day out, right here on Haitian soil.
Bobb Rousseau, PhD
Bobb Rousseau advocates for Haitian sovereignty and good governance and writes about diaspora relations, political reform, and national development
Bobb Rousseau