By: Jude Elie
September 27, 2022
As a democrat and aspirant to the high office of President of my country, Haiti, I can only condemn the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian armed forces. In national or international politics, we must respect not only democracy, institutions, and treaties, but also maintain peace with neighboring countries. This is one of the keys to true sustainable development.
We talk everywhere about Ukraine being attacked, but we ignore the catastrophic situation of my country Haiti. Haiti has been attacked from within for more than 20 years by a clique of corrupt politicians backed by drug lords. Insecurity terrorizes my fellow citizens. The situation is going from bad to worse: the gangs reign supreme, raping, looting, and killing with impunity.
President Jovenel Moise was assassinated more than a year ago, in his residence, without any legal or criminal consequences. More than fifteen months have passed since the installation of a transitional government and no election has taken place! My country is in agony, misery, and poverty plague everything in this country. The rule of law, the constitutional order, basic human rights no longer exist. Unfortunately, our constitution is just a scrap of paper.
As a result, there is a wild emigration of hungry and desperate citizens. Often, as we see in the Mediterranean, they meet death while trying to reach the USA in frail boats. We talk about it less and less, because unfortunately we get used to seeing Haiti go even lower.
Haiti was the first country in the world to wrest its independence from a colonizer. Toussaint Louverture, whom I admire enormously, obtained it by opposing Napoleon Bonaparte. I want to help my fellow Haitians, through my economic and political program, to become a sovereign democratic country once again with a strong economy that will eradicate the incredible misery of my people.
Do you know that the GNP per capita is 10 times less in Haiti than that of Ukraine?
This situation cannot continue. It is high time that in Haiti, transparency, honesty, and prosperity replace corruption, violence and the extreme poverty that results from it. Through my visceral love for Haiti and my fellow citizens, my professional background, my studies, my international exposure, I must be able to give hope to Haitians, and rebuild a new Haiti.
Jude Elie, Candidate for the Presidential Election of Haiti
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