A Caribbean Dawn : Haiti enjoys a historical first--democratic transfer of power

Today, when Rene Preval receives the presidential sash from Jean-Bertrand Aristide in Port-au-Prince, both men will be making history: This will be the first democratic transition of power in Haiti.

Aristide, Preval and the Haitian people who went to the polls in a tense December should be commended for their commitment to the democratic process. President Clinton and his foreign policy team also deserve credit for the constructive role they played, pushing a military dictatorship from power in 1994 and restoring the presidency to Aristide. Given Haiti’s brutal past, all these factors were necessary to turn today’s important page in the Caribbean island nation.

The thugs who once served the Duvalier autocrats and their military successors have all but disappeared as a force. Counting now on a professional, U.S.-trained police force, the new government under Aristide, and from today under Preval, has proved it can substantially diminish the insane political violence that was prevalent only 18 months ago. Meanwhile, a democratic separation of powers is beginning to take root as both Parliament and the judicial system increasingly assert their independence from the executive branch.

Despite these encouraging changes, enormous social, political and economic problems continue to hover over Port-au-Prince and the highlands of this poor nation. Without continued assistance from the international community, Haiti cannot succeed in consolidating its incipient democracy.

The Clinton administration has planned a total aid package of $115 million for 1996. It is money destined for education, police training, elections, food and infrastructure development.

An additional $100 million may be coming from institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. But Preval’s government will have to meet some tough conditions to qualify. The regime, for instance, operates too many companies. A good number should be privatized, and Washington is pushing hard for this conversion despite its potentially unsettling effect among workers. Unemployment already stands at about 65%. But Preval must seize the moment and push harder on privatization. Otherwise he could jeopardize substantial assistance.

Haiti will face many challenges. But the first and most difficult part, installing democracy, is a fait accompli.