Ottawa, May 14, 2012

Declaration of the Very Honourable Michaëlle Jean to the ongoing political impasse in Haiti.

Our sole responsibility.

This is serious. The Nation is not immortal, it is dying. The country is gasping for breath, after all. The world attended, without illusions, the sad spectacle of Haitian political impasses that follow sudden and partisan rivalries of sterile inquisitions on issues like the insane dual nationality, as Haiti's needs the support of all its daughters and all its sons, to see them answer the call of the ancestors, so often sublimated, but if not followed, became a dead letter: "Unity is strength!"

Union we have nothing to do, we prefer the division and endless confrontations. So much so, that we have the power to drive more than our land and a population into poverty, abject poverty, misery and confusion.

It happened to me, I confess, to be ashamed of this pathetic betrayal of our achievements and our conquests of yesteryear. Betrayal of our noblest aspirations of freedom, equality and fraternity. Betrayal of our highest dreams to break all the chains.

It hurts my heart to be arrested by the Haitian people, smiling, pulling the line but do not see in Haiti a country ruined, deliquescent, without compass, no State, without a future, a trunk rotten, and a world of corruption, some do not hesitate to say, incapable of.

I was recently at a round table where the verdict on Haiti was ruthless, as the stalemate in recent months is overwhelming. See elected officials determined not to roll up their sleeves, but to sacrifice the interest of all on the altar of the filibuster, unrestrained lawlessness is unsustainable. The exercise continues and it is a cruel irresponsibility. This disorder kills and a country plunged in darkness, in confusion as the spirits are nostalgic longing for the old order of dictatorships.

The violent movement of tectonic plates is dwarfed. One would think this disaster, incommensurate, able to recall reason and discipline.

It was hoped that there would be a surge of humanity, a step towards an ethic of sharing. Hunt the natural, it is galloping. The well is equipped relaunched in mediocrity. Because we are poor if we do not ressaisissons. Poor, if we fail to achieve the necessary unity and put aside our selfishness and vested interests. Poor, if we refuse the dialogue and the historic compromise beneficial to the common good, to rebuild the country, to create a new Haiti. Poor, if we remain mired in chronic indifference and the headlong rush that characterizes us at the failure which nevertheless bursts cruelly eyes at every turn. Poor, in our lack of boldness, courage and consistency. Poor, in our complacency, our blind contentment, and our fatalism when he urgently needed, together, redouble our efforts. Poor, facing youth in need of role models and opportunities for the present and for the future.

Yet it could be otherwise. We could show what we can do, stop rebirth of despair, to show vision, create all our energy, all of our hearts and minds volunteers hope. It is also necessary that we like. The collective will is failing us, it is still not at the rendezvous. Otherwise, we would invest for any government formed as soon as possible, a viable state, strong institutions, regrouped, and a competent civil service, universal access to health services throughout the country, schools and quality programs with trained teachers, a state university back on track with a campus in the North and others to start to build in each region of the country, a justice system accessible, effective, independent and reliable professional national police force capable of ensure the safety of places, people and borders and part of the development of stronger communities participating in a decentralized manner to the growth of local, regional and national organizations of civil society included in the movement and is involved in finding solutions to the problems afflicting; a diversified economy to a recovery in domestic production and job creation, levers and niches throughout; prioritized agriculture, fishing and marine trades organized; Entrepreneurship ease; laws, rules, codes enacted for public safety and to end the chaos, to the carelessness dangerously deadly; energy policy and innovative reforestation, cleanliness and safety for all our more pride, our integrity and our sense of dignity of citizens which we recognize the rights and freedoms, but also are aware of their duties.

Exactly one year ago, a democratically elected president was spending the cockade to another, also legitimately chosen by the ballot box. The new president will not have had the easy part to form a government and consolidate, as the ground is undermined. Let it be understood as preventing, delaying the formation of a government is pure sabotage, irresponsible and suicidal. The clock is ticking, every day, every month an impasse is a blow dealt to the nation. The world is watching rather than sorry, but disconcerted face such a political quagmire totally dishonorable. Without government, the country already on the precipice, not rise, every effort will be swallowed up.

The country is us, each and every one of us. Its success also depends on us.

I say "we", not trying to extract myself from the fate of the land where I was born.

It is our full responsibility to show what we are really capable of doing.

Michaëlle Jean