Haiti is in a democratic deficit. Haiti is hurting.
Jovenel Moïse, the current and 42nd president of Haiti, started as an entrepreneur and local politician. In his campaign, Moïse advocated and supported policies like universal education and healthcare, the rule of law, and Haiti's further development.
However, his position as the head of government in Haiti is seen as fraudulent by many. In October of 2016, category 5 Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti and caused massive damage in the surrounding environment and other important aspects of citizens' lives and politically. Six weeks after this catastrophe, an election took place where there was only 21% voter turnout, and almost half of these votes were for Jovenel Moïse. Jovenel Moïse won this 2016 election and eventually took office.
Moïse seems like an excellent person to hold the presidency for a struggling country like Haiti; he cares about all the right things- especially universal education and healthcare. Nevertheless, Moïse has nothing but a bad reputation for those in Haiti and those following this unfortunate situation.
Those in opposed leadership of Moïse are currently trying to dispute the President and his supporters. From the opinion of legal experts and civil leaders, say his term was supposed to end February 7 of this year officially- but President Moïse and his army of supporters deny this and believe they should stay in office until February of 2022. But why?
The controversy comes in when they begin to look at the dates. He won the election in November of 2016 but was officially President in February of 2017. There is much contemplation as to when his time should have started.
"Article 134-1 of the Haitian Constitution states, 'the duration of the presidential mandate is five years. This period begins and ends on the February 7 following the date of elections'.
But Article 134-2 stipulates that 'in case the vote cannot take place before February 7, the elected president takes office immediately after the vote is confirmed and his mandate is expected to begin on February 7 in the year of the election'" (Joseph, 2021).
Even though the Haitian Superior Council of Judicial Power and other influential governmental organizations have clearly stated that Moïse should have left office in February of 2021, he refuses.
It's almost as if Moïse believes he is above the law and Constitution of the land of Haiti. Like he is exempt from any law made to make democracy fair in Haiti.
Moïse is also trying to change things as much as possible while he still has the power he is not supposed to have. He is getting rid of judges, changing who is in office, and making things go his way. It's like he isn't even considering the impact it has on the citizens of Haiti. So what does this mean for them? What can they do?
The education system is stopped to protect students and administrators from the government's severe outbreak and violence. Society is moving at the slowest speed in decades. The citizens of Haiti cannot be victimized any longer by the misinterpretation and disdain of the Constitution.
Haitian demonstrators are demanding that Moïse leave office as soon as possible. He is a dictator causing the country to deteriorate by allowing things to slide with unauthorized groups. Thousands of people have marched in the nation's capital, and there is no good response from this.
While Haitian citizens fight for their rights and for Moïse to be taken out of office, they are being terrorized by the police and gang violence uptick. A human rights activist believes that "The country is now gangsterized — what we are living is worse than during the dictatorship" (Isaac et al., 2021). The police are hurting its citizens with tear gas, and weapons and gangs have impunity- is this why they are taking advantage (Joseph, 2021)?
Unfortunately, Haitian citizens have to keep fighting and be consistent with their fight. It may seem like a never-ending battle right now, but eventually, their time of peace and solidarity will come again.
References:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/07/world/americas/haiti-protests-President-Jovenel-Mois.html
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/28/what-is-happening-in-haiti-political-crisis-persists
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