Constant Méheut

Macron Honors Touissant Louverture, but Leaves Much Unsaid

  • Posted on: 30 April 2023
  • By: Bryan Schaaf

French President Emmanuel Macron recently visited the French prison where revolutionary leader, Touissant Louverture died, having been kidnapped during what were supposed to be negotiations.  Louverture had wanted equal rights for Haitians which the French would not accept. Jean-Jacques Dessalines subsequently determined the French could not be trusted and must be defeated militarily, which they were.   This is the first time a French leader has paid tribute to Louverture.  It is just the first step on what would be a long road to reconciliation and justice.   The full New York Times article follows. 

Invade Haiti, Wall Street Urged. The U.S. Obliged

  • Posted on: 25 May 2022
  • By: Bryan Schaaf

The New York Times has run an excellent multi-part series on how the United States and France impoverished and de-stabilised while enriching themselves. The piece, copied below, is entitled "The Ransom" and covers how Wall Street, and in particular the Bank that became Citigroup, urged the US occupation of Haiti.  Other pieces in this series include "The Root of Haiti's Misery: Reparation to Enslavers", "Haiti's Lost Billions", and "How a French Bank Captured Haiti" and "Demanding Reparations and Ending Up in Exile."  Both in the past and at present Haitians struggle with racism, corporate greed, and political exploitation of other countries.  This aspect of Haitian history is rarely tought in the USA or France - but it should be.