About Haiti

Hispaniola, the island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, is considered Spain’s jumping off point while it successfully colonized the Americas. The northern coast of Haiti, specifically the village of “La Navidad”, served as Christopher Columbus’ original settlement for the Spanish in the “West Indies”.

Widely considered the wealthiest country in the Americas at several points in time during written history, Haiti has now deteriorated to the poorest and most politically unstable country in the Western Hemisphere. After 200 years of Spanish pilfering (from 1492-1697) France and Spain amicably split the island, giving the western, smaller portion to France, while the Dominican Republic stayed with Spain. For the next 100 years France viewed Haiti as its most important overseas territory, while French colonists enslaved more than 500.000 Africans to use in producing and harvesting the abundant resources (sugar cane, coffee, cotton, and gold) to provide wealth and comfortable living both on the island and at home.

In 1791, a 13 year war against the French colonists began, leading to the only successful slave revolt in history. Not only did Napoleon with his 70,000 odd troops try to squelch the revolt, but he also had assistance, toward the end of the war, from Spanish and British armies. The slave determination was too strong and in 1804, Haiti was liberated and became only the second republic in the Americas – right behind the United States.

Haiti, meaning “mountainous country” in the Taino-Arawak language, then launched into its modern history as we know it and more than 200 years of fairly constant civil war, general unrest and political instability. From the assassination of their first emperor, Dessalines, to the defeat and control of the Dominican Republic for 20 years, to the US Marine occupation of almost 20 years, Haiti’s history is wrought with many trying to “help” in order to secure the abundant natural resources of the country. However, in return all that has been created is a nation with little to call its own and a bloody trail to the present.

Democracy finally descended on Haiti in 1990, under the popular parish priest, Jean Bertrand Aristide. However his backing by the US and his use of the Catholic Church as his platform put him in a powerful and often manipulative position that eventually led to distrust by the Haitians, despite widespread support by international allies.

Currently, under the leadership of Preval, Haiti has experienced its most democratic point in history. Although corruption is ever present and there is no infrastructure to speak of, Haitians may possibly have yet another chance in 2 years to vote again and have their voice heard. With a phased out military and an underpaid, understaffed police force, violence within slums and towards the wealthy continues to rise. The justice system needs revamping and the education and health systems need direction, but there may be a light at the end of the tunnel for this 200 year old country.

Haiti Quick Facts

• 1st  – Haiti’s rank among countries of the Western Hemisphere in population living below the poverty line
• 5th – Haiti’s rank among countries of the world, in population living below the poverty line
• 80% of Haiti’s population living below the poverty line (CIA world factbook)
• 54% of Haitian infants receiving measles vaccines (UNICEF Child Alert)
• 90% of infants in the rest of Latin America receiving measles vaccine
• 59.6 – infant (age<1) mortality per 1,000 live births (CIA world factbook)
• 1933 – last year infant mortality rates were at that level in US (Public Health Service. Vital Statistics of the United States), before discovery/ widespread use of antibiotics, and development of FEN regimens