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Haitians find alternative to the policy of Aristide’s power élite (STT/Savon Sanomat/Keskipohjanmaa November 2001 - Juhani Artto) Jean-Bertrand Aristide began his second term as Haitian President on 7 February 2001, exactly ten years after his first term began. Although this term was interrupted after only eight months by a military coup, it continued in 1994-1995 with support from the US military and massive international financial aid. The expectations on Aristide at the beginning of his terms in 1991 and 2001 were precisely opposed. Haitian Ombudsman roots legality in the country of arbitrary rule (Lakimiesuutiset 2-2002 - Juhani Artto) Florence Elie has been serving for the last two years as the Ombudsman of the Republic of Haiti. This graceful lawyer discusses her job in peaceful and credible tones, even though to an outsider the assignment might seem hopeless. Haiti has a very long way to go in establishing the rule of law. (Palkkatyöläinen 2-2002 - Juhani Artto) Mathieu Marcel, 28, lives in Capotille, a village in the North-Eastern corner of Haiti. His home region is one of the poorest areas in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, but Mathieu does not complain. (Auto- ja kuljetusala 2-2002 - Juhani Artto) What’s it like working as a driver in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere? "Not so bad," Camdio Jean Joseph replies. Finland’s Service Unions
United – PAM (PAM 1-2002 - Juhani Artto) Half of Haitian adults are illiterate and most people live in poverty. Although the country became independent in a black slaves’ revolt as long ago as 1804, the greed of those in power and the country’s undemocratic administration have badly stunted its development over the decades. An élite consisting of rich families and the military leadership has concentrated on grabbing power and wealth. (PAM 1-2002 - Juhani Artto) Mirta, 14, attends school in the mornings, excels at her studies and plans to become a doctor. Fine! This is just what Haiti needs. The downside of the story, on the other hand, is a gloomy one. (Kehitys Utveckling 2-2002 - Juhani Artto) In the 1980s Haiti’s official per capita GNP fell by 2.1 per cent annually, and in the 1990s by an average of 2.7 per cent. However, the preliminary results of a UNDP household survey reflect significant social progress since the 1970s. The literacy rate has increased, the death rate and underweight rates have fallen and the availability of potable water has improved. There are obvious factors explaining the disparity between these economic and social indicators. |
Gallery
© Jerry Bergman
Haití:
la institucionalización del caos Haiti Independent republic since 1804 - area 28 000 sqkm; a third of the island Hispaniola in the Caribbean; neighbouring country Dominican Republic - 8 million inhabitants; in addition 2 million Haitians live in the UA and Canada - the capital Port-au-Prince has 2 million inhabitants - blacks 95 per cent; mulattoes and whites 5 per cent - Roman Catholics 80 per cent; followers of the Protestant churches 19 per cent; half of the population influenced by voodoo religion and culture - in 1980-2000 the officially GNP per capita decreased annually 2,4 per cent - one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere - 80 per cent of the population suffer of poverty - in 2000 the value of exports was a third of the value of imports - foreign debt 1,2 billion dollars - under-5 mortality rate 70/1000 - 5 per cent of the adult HIV-positive - failed coup d'etat in December 2001 |
