Haiti’s independence debt to France focused on debate at the United Nations

The first country to free itself from slavery through a successful rebellion, Haiti gained independence from France in 1804. But the price to oppose colonial orders was very steep. On April 17, 1825, surrounded by French warships, Haiti agreed to pay compensation of 150 million gold francs to European rule.

Officially, payments are intended to provide compensation to the owner of the French plantation for “lost property” after independence, but the number far exceeds the actual loss.

“France forced the winners of the independence of Haiti – former slaves – to provide compensation to the losers, their former master,” Monique Clesca, a journalist and activist of Haiti descent, said on Thursday at A meeting on the country’s independence debt. The meeting was held during UN permanent forum about African descent.

Freedom Price: Double Debt

This tax on Liberty immediately plunged into the first black republic in the world to be a spiral debt. When Haiti is no longer able to pay, France encourages banks to lend money, what we call “double debt,” Ms. Clesca explained.

In 1914, more than three quarters of the country’s national budget were still dried to pay the French bank. Only in 1947 – more than 140 years after independence – Haiti finally completed her debt.

“France carried out great injustice that was still resonating today,” said Clesca.

In -depth 2022 investigation The New York Times found that Haiti’s payment to France was equivalent to modern around $ 560 million. If the money was detained in Haiti and invested in the country, it could add more than $ 20 billion to the country’s economy from time to time, according to some economists.

Haiti Today: Inheritance of Debt

Although Haiti stood a milestone in the global struggle for emancipation, today is mired in instability, with armed gangs controlling 85 percent of the capital, port-au-prince. According to the World Bank, it remains the poorest country in Latin America and the Caribbean.

From institutional paralysis to weapons and corruption trade, the state challenges are very large. However, to members of the UN permanent forum, the root of the Haiti crisis is clear: they lie in history.

“Human rights crisis rooted in the Republic of Haiti [are] rooted in the legacy of slavery, colonialism, debt payments, military threats and intervention, “said the Advisory Agency to the United Nations Human Rights Council in a Position paper last month.

Late confession

Responding to an increasing call for justice, French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday announced the creation of a Commission with Historian Haiti and France to examine the impact of the 1825 compensation.

While welcoming that step, Martin Kimani, A Member of a permanent forumemphasizes that the effectiveness of the commission will depend on its willingness to fully recognize the damage caused.

“We call for compensation from the amount of finance extracted through this cost arrangement along with broader repair steps to overcome Haiti’s structural backwardness and international neglect,” Kimani said during the meeting, held on the last day of the fourth session of this week’s forum.

According to media reports, so far the French President has stopped committed to financial repairs.

Call for restitution

“The colonial past created responsibilities that must be assumed collectively by France and the international community,” Pierre Ericq Pierre, a permanent representative of Haiti told the United Nations, who took part in the discussion.

According to the Ambassador of Haiti, the eternal inequality in the country was rooted in the past and the burden of “ransom”.

In his view, restitution will only be far away. “This is not about revenge,” he said. “This is about truth and justice.”

Restorative justice

Haiti people deserve a future that is free from violence – who meets basic development standards, said Gaynel Curry, Other members of the permanent forum.

In addition to returning colonial debt, Ms. Curry called for the creation of international repair funds for Haiti and built an independent investigation, under the Human Rights Council, to explore the way into restorative justice.

For Verene Albertha Shepherd, Deputy Chairperson The UN Committee regarding the elimination of racial discriminationSuch steps will also respect other moral debts that are owed by people of African descendants to the revolutionaries of Haiti.

“These freedom fighters hit the fear of all slave owners,” he said.

More than two centuries after Haiti’s independence, he added, the time had arrived to provide justice.