Booker T. Washington High School

Model United Nations Club

Country Briefing: Haiti

Haiti occupies half of the island of Hispaniola, located in the Caribbean.  It has recently experienced a violent transfer of power.  The new government is trying to establish its international legitimacy and attract the resources it needs to rebound.  It will be a challenging job, but the future of Haiti depends on diplomacy.

Historical Overview: Haiti is a small island country in the Caribbean.  After the native population was wiped out by European settlers, Haiti was home to a colony of French sugar plantations until 1805, when a slave revolution overthrew the masters.  Haiti emerged as the hemisphere's second republic, based on principals of equality and freedom.  Haiti's subsequent history has been difficult.  A rapidly-growing population has strained Haiti's environment, leading to deforestation, declining food production and rising poverty.  A class system emerged, in which an aristocracy of light-skinned blacks controlled the economy and government.  In the twentieth century, the Duvalier family ruled with an iron fist.  Political opponents were murdered (some were fed to crocodiles!) while the Duvaliers grew ever richer.  Finally, in the 1990s, a popular uprising toppled "Baby Doc" Duvalier.  Haiti experienced a new start.  A charismatic former priest, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, was elected the first democratic president of Haiti.  He faced a challenge soon after when a military coup attempted to oust him in 1994.  The US intervened, forcing the coup leaders to step down and restore Aristide.  But Haiti still faced the same, seemingly unbreakable cycle of poverty and instability.  The country was dependent on shipments of American aid to maintain living standards.  The US-trained police force was unable to preserve law and order.  Increasingly, Aristide appears to have relied on the support of paramilitary groups.   Some of these groups have engaged in human rights violations, including the murder of political opponents.  This year, a dispute arose between Aristide and some paramilitaries.  The paramilitaries proceeded to demolish his government, one town at a time.  The local police were unable to stop their lawless rampage, and foreign powers were compelled to intervene.  The US and France sent troops to Haiti, where they negotiated with the rebels.  The US called for Aristide's departure, saying his presence 'had become a source of instability.'  Aristide soon departed for Africa, though accounts differ as to whether he left of his own accord or was forced out by the US.  An interim government was put in place, consisting of a coalition of business leaders who pledged to hold elections soon.

Diplomatic Agenda

Politics and Security: you represent the "new" government of Haiti -- the coalition that replaced Jean-Bertrand Aristide.  Above all, you want to be accepted as the legitimate government of Haiti, and not Aristide.  You should put pressure on Jamaica to expel Aristide and keep him from making political statements.  You also count on the US to protect your government and restore stability.  The paramilitaries have to be disarmed.  The other issues up for discussion -- drug trafficking, terrorism, boundary disputes, Venezuela -- are all secondary to you.  Try to get your committee room to accept your position.

Economics and Trade: Haiti depends on foreign aid from the US and other countries.  With too many people living on poor land, the country cannot really sustain itself.  You must persuade the US to use its influence in the International Monetary Fund to secure loans for its development.  Free trade might be helpful, if it allows Haiti to use its low cost of labor to attract manufacturing jobs.

Human Rights: This is a tricky subject.  The paramilitaries committed many crimes during the recent violence.  But it would be very dangerous for your shaky government to criticize them now.  You also don't want to encourage the international community to pick on unstable countries like yours for the chaos they endure.  You oppose the creation of any committee or resolution that insists on high standards for human rights.  Your position is that human rights can be a luxury for the rich and peaceful.

Environment: Haiti faces environmental catastrophe.  Years of cutting forests has led to soil erosion in the farmlands.  Many poor people live in shanty towns around Port-au-Prince and other towns.  Your strategy should be to play up these problems so as to attract environmental aid.  There is one more measure you could promote: emigration.  If the US opens its borders to more Haitian immigrants, you could ease population pressures on the land.  BUt will the US agree to this controversial step?