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Federalism, the only viable solution for Haiti

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 By Daniel Eugene

Within a few weeks, Haiti will celebrate her 211th anniversary of independence through an abysmal turmoil of political crisis.

Not too long ago, with the blessing of America, Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe was forced to resign under heavy pressure to satisfy the demand of the opposition, paradoxically against President Michel Martelly and many of the legislature’s will.

If, on her own right, Haiti had become the world’s beacon of freedom by rebelling against the slavery practice, in the last half century her reputation has also been plagued by repetitive nonsensical political gridlocks. Until, we Haitians objectively scrutinize our past failure and come up with a stable and durable formula or recipe of governance, we will continue to have the same conversation and results 100 years from now.

Our past practice is really what needs to be changed. From 1908 to 1915 seven presidents were elected and deposed. Now, many are wondering if history is about to repeat itself since coincidentally, a C-130 was seen in Port-au-Prince airport in anticipation of chaos, close to the 100 year anniversary of the U.S. Marine invasion in 1915.

The glorious past is the bubble we choose to live in, but we had also too many shameful events in our history that should motivate us to change course, for instance, switching from unitary to federalism, and partitioning the country into three main regions, North, South and Central.

Since, after the death of Henry Christophe, we have quickly under the guidance of Alexandre Petion become a republic modeling the unitary system of France. By default, this system fosters corruptions, cronyism, nepotism and multi-subservient, equally feeble and lame levels of governmental institutions because all the powers are centralized and entrusted to one man with the power of the purse and practically accountable to no one. The opposition, on the other hand is only interested in ascending to power by toppling the president. Today is no different than the last 200 years.

Now, with the prime minister and his cabinet gone, and the parliament which is about to become obsolete, this is a unique opportunity to switch our gear. It makes logical sense to keep Martelly because of his willingness to reach out, listen and negotiate with all parties and his next designated PM as heads of the government. Additionally, nine credible men and women should be commissioned to govern with them for a reasonable time frame where our best legal minds from the Diaspora and within our homeland, to craft a new and modern federal constitution for the country as a whole and one for each of the three different regions.

At this point, all politics will become regional whereas the elected party will be responsible for economic growth of the region under her mandate. Law against corruptions and impunity should then be enforced at the regional and federal levels while a system of checks and balances in coexistence to fight abuse of power by either branch of government and corrosive influence of money and foreign powers established.(Originally published in the Sun-Sentinel)

Daniel Eugene   is the founder of the Voice of the Haitian American in the Diaspora and the Haitian American Leadership & Empowerment Consortium.

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