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Pls note. Haiti had to pay an indemnification to France after Independane of approx. 150 million gold francs. Which was finally paid off in 1947. Why is Haiti so poor, France in collusion with the US and Britain blocked recognition and emabargoed the country until they agreed to pay. In other words, they paid france for the slaves that were liberated.
How about getting France to give back the money, in todays dollars that would probably be around 25 Billion US Dollars?
These poor people have not only suffered prior to natural disasters, but they continue to suffer due to inept organization skills by the largest developed nations in the world. Forget the celebrity interviews and get a line started to bring food and medicine in. This is not rocket science, it's called develop a procedure and implement it – period!
Truly we have these telethons rising money to give aid to this country, but it's like putting up a stoplight at an intersection only "after" there have been several fatalities. Upwards of 200,000 people had to perish, millions displaced and suffering in the future inevitable. We've been building schools and sending aid there for years. Where's the preventative thought here. It's not like no one knew it was hot spot for natural disasters. Why weren't we building or helping them build sturdier buildings from the giddy-up. Please somebody, anybody scribble down a lessons learned here and maybe, just maybe someone will read it. God Bless those who had to suffer unnecessarily.
I know little about Haiti except for the fact that they have not been able to climb out of poverty. Why is this? The Dominican Republic shares the same island and has done so. Whatever these problems are, they should be addressed in some effective way. I agree the people need help after this disaster. But, how can they truly become independent?
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE DOING KEEPING THIS STORY IN THE NEWS, LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR PROGRAM TODAY ON BUILDING HAITI. HELPING THE CHILDREN LEFT BEHIND AND REBUILDING NEEDS TO BE OUR FOCUS FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND WE CAN DO IT AND IF WELL ORGANIZED BY PEOPLE WHO TRULY CARE IT WILL BE DONE SO WELL. IT WILL BE A CONTRY THAT THE WORLD CAN BE PROUD OF, WE WILL ALL FILL WE HAD A PART IN THE REBUILDING OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY.
I AM A REGISTERED NURSE ALREADY TRAINED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY TO CARE FOR CHILDREN AND I WOULD LIKE TO DEDICATE MYSELF TO PROVIDIND LIFE OPPORTUNITIES TO ONE OR TWO OF THE NEWLY ORPHAN CHILDREN FORM HAITI. CAN YOU PLEASE DO A FOLLOW UP ON THAT PART OF THE PROBLEMS OF HAITI, BETTER YET IF YOU HAVE THE TIME CAN YOU SEND INFO VIA MY EMAIL ADDRESS. AGAIN THANK YOU.
SUZE FROM FLORIDA.
I think the work that the whole Cnn news crew are doing reporting extraodinary stories out of Haiti is the greatest gift. I mean Cnn is the number one news station throughout the globe, if something happens likes the Earquake, they are there. I want to thank Cnn and its stuff for these wonderful stories out of my country. I thank Christiane, Anderson, Dr. Sanjay just to name a few, You guy are the best of what you do.
I thank you.
Christiane seems to have a more objective perspective on the world than many, but in the short clip of the more recent history of Haiti, did not mention the US and CIA influence in Haiti (Papa Doc, Baby Doc, et al), and the interest in keeping Haiti poor.
I asked a rhetorical question recently: "Why is Haiti so poor?" and then I read a couple of factual articles on the more recent history of this impoverished nation.
I commend all the effort being expended on helping the people, and have donated towards the relief effort (probably more about conscience than I care to admit), but when aid is being controlled by those who apparently have taken charge, then I wonder if the intent is on relief, or control.
God bless all those trying. Perhaps with the world watching maybe Haiti will get the real relief it needs and deserves.
hi Amanpour, why is it that you are pushing that the USA do every thing there in Haiti? Where is the rest of the world in this disaster?
You act an seem to think that we should take every body there and bring them to the USA. where were you in reporting the problems in New Orleans and why are you not reporting how things are still problems there?
How come we don't see you interviewing the other countries in the world?
Murray
Re: Aristide, Not a military coup, an US backed coup.
It's easier to rebuild Haiti that it is to waste money and time in countries like Iraq.
Have been listening to Haiti report just concluding here. An idea came to me earlier today–granted quite juvenile, especially for a questionably dementianal 92-year-old.
Obviously, USA has great need of jobs; Haiti is in need of so much–housing, infrastructure, etc.; there has been an outpouring of financial support. Could not some of the underutilized factories in the US be turned to production of some of what is needed by the Haitians, many of our unemployed be hired or retrained for that production. Could this lead to job openings in planning, transporting, etc? Could some of the financial gifts go to those processes with an end result of supplies being provided to Haiti to form job opportunities for them as well in assembling and completing housing, e.g.?
I must agree with Victor. Given your penchant for balanced and incisive reporting, I am disappointed that this time around your report on Haiti's history leaves much untold It is shallow and does not help to put this country that has so long been misunderstood in proper perspective. For a start I would recommend that you read a recently published article by Sir Hilary Beckles pro-vice-chancellor and Principal of the Cave Hill Campus, UWI. The article is entitled The Hate and the Quake. Then, you can perhaps get France's view on the whole issue and how would they if they have a conscience respond to Haiti's crisis now.
But it is time that the world see Haiti as not merely a country befuddled by voodoo and illiteracy but a victim of a prolonged collusion of the World Powers of the day.
Amanpour, just like it is easy to send money via text in America, can you organise something that easy in a country like ours- Nigeria, a lot of people will like to help through that same simple means. There are redcross and a number of reputable organisations that could make this happen in Nigeria.
Please pass this on to your team or those that could help make it happen. Nigerian cant wait to help too.
SHOLA
Why don't the French take in all the Haitians, or in fact the Europeans. Why does it always have to be the USA taking in and supporting all of these people.
There are external reasons why Haiti has remained poor that your history ignores. Let me reiterate and enlarge on Victor's information.
After defeating Napoleon's best general, the Haitian people and economy were devastated by the refusal of the USA, France and all other nations to recognize them or trade with them. After 21 years, Haiti was forced to throw in the towel and agree to pay reparations to France, which sent appraisers to set the value of the land, buildings, businesses and people (after all, they had been slaves and therefore property!).
In the meantime, France had sold the USA the entire Louisiana Territory, which hemmed in the USA to the eastern third of the continent, for little more than half of what Haiti had to pay. Napoleon sold the Territory because the Haitians had scuttled his intention of building an French empire in North America,
Haiti had to take out bank loans at exorbitant interest rates for pay the reparations, including from US banks. Woodrow Wilson sent in the Marines in 1915 to ensure that the National City Bank of New York would be paid. They took over the government for 19 years and also opened the country to US corporations. The bank loans were finally paid off in 1947.
The reparations payments took a majority of the wealth that Haiti produced for well over a century.
Then there is the newer debt accumulated (and largely stolen) by the Duvaliers, who were supported by the US.
Leaving out the reparations from the history of Haiti is like ignoring the industrial revolution in describing the economic history of the UK and totally skews the understanding of the situation by your audience.
Christiane,
I applaud your work in Haiti. However, you need to understand that Haiti’s history is extensive and lengthy. In addition, if you are making far-fetched reportage on Haiti’s history you are adding an insurmountable amount pain to the people of Haiti, which will defeat the purpose of your work in Haiti now. After, I read your reportage, I came to the realization that your reportage here on Haiti’s history is unpalatable.
Amen! Haiti's dillemma started when Dessalines declared independence from France in 1804. That had infuriated the Europeans as much as the U.S which at the time was only 12 years of age as a nation and fully involved in the practice of slavery. The Europeans in concert with the U.S. had barred Haiti from participating in the developments of free and established nations. Technologies that helped modernized Europe and the U.S. were not available to the Haitians. Their only mean of survival was agriculture, which was rather primitive at that time. To really touch on all the bases of all the reasons Hait is so poor, I would have to write an essay of many pages long. Since it's impossible, the following would describe some of the difficult realities. Haiti had to pay the French with interest approximately 150 millions Ducas for its independence. In today today's wquivalent of $1billion and half dollars. It took 100 years to pay it off. The U.S. had a blockade in place for more than 20 years, it declined Haiti's requset to assist in rebuilding the country following the revolt. The vast majority of Haiti's population was black former slaves, poor, and illiterate who lived no better than slavery days, The status quo was divided between the black government officials and some well-off mulattoes who lived in decent housing. Outside forces of the U.S. and Europe made sure Haitians were not united. It was a tough place for government to operate with the people's best interest at heart. In 1915 Woodrow Wilson decided the takeover by force in the name of stabilisation and occupied Haiti for 19 years. By then the Haitian people were anything but free. The Americans left a Military system in place. Add that institution to the era of despotism of the Duvaliers – namely Francois ("Papa Doc") and his son, Jean-Claude ("Baby Doc") for a combined 29 years. The years 1957-86 put the finishing touches on a hole of disappointment, hopelessness, and despair in which Haitians find themselves buried in, with no way out anytime soon.
Based on the information & images seen on CNN in last 12 days, I think that Haitians can not govern themselves. They are hard working people, but they can not manage themselves. They can not arrange capital for investing in the infrastructure they need desperately.
The land is good & the Haitians are overall good people. So UN should take the lead & invite all countries to invest in Haiti.
Any individual or corporation should be welcome. Haiti can become a great tourist destination for western hemisphere due to weather & human capital.
Like China or Mexico, Haiti can provide cheap labor & prosper by exporting to America.
I FEEL VERY SORRY FOR HATE,S QUAKE,FEEL VERY PROUD TO BE AMERICAN AND I APPRICATE YOUR WORK FOR THE NATIOANALS.AYS ARE NOT THE SAME,USA HAVE LOTS OF ITS OWN FINANCIAL CRISES AND JOBS CRISIS.EVERY BODAY IS STRUGLING WITH THEIR OWN PROBLES TRYING EVERYONE TRYING TO SAVE THRIE OWN LIVES FROMABKS.ARE THE ONE WHO HAVE SUCK THE BLOOD OF THE PEOPLE SO HAVE MERCY ON USA CITIZEN YOUR JOB IS TO BRING PEOPLE TO USA.AFTER THEN,EVERY CITIZEN OF USA WILL TAKE THE BURDEN OF THEM,NOT YOU,WE NEED HELP NO ONE COME TO HELP US TILL TODATE CAN NOT PROVIDE JOBS TO US. MANY HAVE LOTS OUR BUSINESS,HOUSE CARS.EVERY DAY IS A NITEMARE FOR EVERY USA.WE ALREDY HAVE ENDLESS WARS GOING ON. GIFT OF MR BUSH,HE DOES NOT HAVE NO PAIN OF CITIZENS,OUR MONEY IS USED FOR WORTHLESS WAR.I LIVE IN A VERY SMALL CITY HEVE NOT SEEN THE LIVES OF THIS CITY. TAKE MY WORDS PLEASE ASK OUR GOVERMENT TO HELP OUR CITIZENS FIRST MAKE US STRONG THEN ONLY WE CAN HELP OTHERS THIS NOT TIME TO HELP OTHERS OR MR BUSH HAVE LOTS TO FOUNDS HE ONE IS ENOUG THERE AND ALL WORLD IS HELPING THEM.WHY YOU ARE IS BRINGING THEM TO USA YOU WANT TO BRING POVERTE TO USA? PLEASE DO NOT PUT THIS BURDENS TO OUR HEADS WE ALL READY HEVE A LOTS OF BURDEN ON OUR HEAD AND OUR LIFE ARE IN THE HANDS OF BANKS THEY ALSO SEEKING OUR BLOD SO HAVE MERCY TELL ALL AMERCIAN,WE CAN NOT TAKE THIS BUREN. THANKYOU
One puppet regime installed in Haiti after another by France and the US. One more corrupt than the other causing the poor, unfortunate people to eke out a subsistence living. We have heard how France, historically has been responsible for Haiti’s plight, however, hardly a word of the nefarious history of US meddling in Haiti from CNN. There are many examples of this in other regions such as Panama, Cuba, Grenada, etc.! I believe a detailed and factual history lesson for CNN’s American supporters should be in order.
After all of the rescue and recovery in Haiti, it would be wonderful if during the rebuilding, solar energy panels were installed on buildings and homes. There definitely is an abundance of sunshine. Not only would it help with electric power for lighting, but the people could use this solar power for cooking. This would help to control the tendance to cut down trees which are used for cooking charcoal. The deforestation has caused so much erosion leading to past flooding situations.
I'm sure Clinton and Gore know enough people who could make this happen. Let's do it right this time. It would be great if Haiti could become a model solar energy country for the rest of the world.
I join Victor, Judith , Manny & others who comment that you have not even begun to describe how Haiti got so poor.
A more thorough Quick History of Haiti:
History of Poverty in Haiti. Fault line in Haiti runs straight to France | Ben Macintyre – Times Online: http://bit.ly/73CdcX
Haiti:
Ravaged and torn apart by Papa Doc and Baby Doc.
Held to Ransom by France and USA.
It is time to Rise from the ashes !
Haiti will grow, during the Decline of the American Empire.
We are living and Experiencing the Fall and decline of America.
Just like all the other Empires which have gone before !
Celtic
The fact that the country is 90 per cent black and mad a statement against colonial powers it has been bled and intentionaly underdeveloped by white buisness and society ....all the concern and care is all just a guise to further plunder the coumtry and seek sympathetic support to their causes.
Christine failed to report the fact that Haitians (including a future King) landed in Savannah and helped the Americans fight their revolutionary war. Our tete a tete with the USA goes way back.
Christine also failed to report how the UN, US Military, Missionaries and a few NGO's have exploited and misused funds and people.
Victor and Judith put their finger on it! I'd call it self-righteous and ignorant the way the US and its media approach this issue. Every well educated person can only shake his head watching this kind of historical misrepresentation.
I'M SCREAMING FROM THE ROOFTOPS. I'm shocked, embarassed, disgusted and appaulded by the reporting on the History of Haiti. 1804??? What happened before that, I believe the Europeans arrived in the late 1400s and early 1500s. It seems that the reporting wants to focus on the most recent history and say there's been a great deal of corruption. Synopsis: Europeans arrived, slaughter all the natives, emport and subject Africans to slavery, enslaved revolt gain freedom and control of country, Haiti cut-off by rest of world by crippling embargo (US, Great Britain, and France), huge debt to France. This is just scratching the surface fo the entire story, there was alot going on, including the US handling their finances for a period of time. THEIR STORY SHEDS THE US IN A BAD LIGHT, SO WE CONVENIENTLY LEAVE OUT FACTS AND THE MAJORITY OF THEIR HISTORY. Where are the real reporters and journalist because this is sad. In this internet era where facts can be found at the touch of a button, you have to do better than this.
doesn't the US owe Haiti the whole reconstruction since it was the US who supported (for what reasons is beyond my comprehension) more than one authoritarian regimes?
Plus, I heard that the US is selling cheap food to Haiti. That food has subventions from the Government. The farmers from Haiti can't compete with that. What else are they going to work on? Mining? Nuclear energy? The US has to stop the selling of cheap food, buy food from their farmers at good prices and little by little they will rise as a country.
I read one caption that mentioned that the Haitians are queing up in the passport office for their passports. One can understand the the difficult situation that people are in, but I think grabbiing the passport and fleeing your country is not the right option. Rather the need of the hour is to stand togather and face the catastrophe, which has struck their nation. This is where USA and other big donors should also play their role, more effectively, by addressing the immediate needs of the refuggees. Beter sanitation, physcological counselling, police protection and some sort of employment, which bring normalcy in their lives, are the need of the hour.Just delivering planeloads of tents or other essentials wont be enough to counter this tragedy. I think CNN can play a pivotal role here and fill in the lacunae.
Victor, if I remember correctly I believe that Haiti tried to get France to pay that money back but failed.
What a second rate history. Did the country really recieve massive miliitary aid from the US and then suffer coups that the US government didn't want? I doubt it. Many others have commented that this leaves out the forced French reparations. I agree.
Amampour you are very competent, however you guys do not tell the involement of the American gorverment in Haiti's poverty. It is time for the truth to come out, which is a country created by slaves in a world where the slaves owner govern. We know what the US and it allies did to keep Haiti in such misery. Haiti is use as an exemple by the world's power for the nations that still under their control (do not revolt otherwise you will be like Hiti is today). All Haitians have to open their eyes because we will never move on if we don't talk.
Dear Amanpour,
I think people should stop discussing about political history of Haiti and should focus more on helping this nation to overcome tragedy.
Am very sad and angry at the way the Haitian people have been treated, the The west and the U.N have failed ,I would like to suggest that aid is a form of slavery and does not help the Haitians to climb out of the poverty The west would be better off supplying equipment that can be used to manufacture the good required by the Haitian People Example tents are required these can be made in Haiti by Haitians , This would give the HAitians employment and money to build their future Donations should be geared to this type Last but not least the children of Haiti should be left in Haiti ,at present they are being treated as a product and sold to the West This has become a big business for so called Orphanages I support an Orpanage in Haiti that provides Home food and education and does not support Adoption out of the country .
I think we need to worry about are own problems in are own country. Yes it is terrible what happened to these people but who helped us during ketrina and during 9:11. We have enough problems and we need to stop worrying about everyone else. We have are own starving people and kids that live on the street why dont we help them insted of helping all of those peolpe that dont live in the USA. Its rediclas and are goverment is doing more for thses countrys then they are doing for are own country WAY TO GO OBAMA.