Blogs haitianos

É o visto de uma chave para o paraíso?

Vice-Jean-Baptiste A. Dumont dá a sua resposta pessoal a tal projeção, quando afirma claramente em sua carta datada de 23 de maio de 2011 com o embaixador dos Estados Unidos da América no Haiti:

Editorial In reference to the Open letter to Mr Kenneth Merten, Ambassador of the United States of America in Haiti from Deputé Jean Baptiste Anthony Dumont of Léogâne published in Le Nouvelliste and www.defend.ht one June, 30th 2011

A visa is a visa is a visa. But, what a valuable document it is for Haitians! Is it frivolous here to explain the importance of a visa, for everyone knows what a visa stands for in the world, and what it represent for Haitians in Haiti?

It is essentially a key to open doors to a larger horizon. The Haitiano-diaspora would use a visa (the ones who are still of Haitian nationality) to visit other countries for business or pleasure while; in Haiti, such a document can be summed –up as so much more: a necessary instrument of survival! Having said that, could we go as far as saying that it could be perceived by many in Haiti, that the visa a key to paradise?

Situation in Haiti June 2011

Yes, Haiti is immersed in a very difficult period to say the least. Bad-governance, ‘elite’ negligence and disinterest, large scale corruption, has been destroying the country for the past 30 years. Today, men, womaen, children are still in a state of post- seism shock, and fighting-hard to keep-up with daily necessities while fearing death by cholera.

Turmoiled elections are now over. A new Martelly regime is getting in place... ' Now is the last chance!' These are typical words often heard in the streets of Petion-Ville. As harsh as it looks like on the ‘terrain’, no one of such a proud nation wants to accept this is a case of last opportunity.

Urgency inherent to the situation is the required pace: Fast decision making. By whom and for the interest of whom, this question obsesses all minds? Is there a partnership-decision- making at the political level and thus consequently, is it plain blunt intervention?

So many question... who really knows what is behind the scene but signs are said to be obvious? Thus, major conjectural confusion reign in a country where state communication to the population is doubtful if not silent, in any instance and never willingly brought forward by the deciders.

If many, the Haitians close to elected President Martelly, have chosen to be positive and optimistic: For change and democracy have been decided upon in this ‘first black republic’.

Haitian population, both local and diaspora have indeed chosen to hang a smile at the face of despair as a beneficial tactic. In order to tackle evil. Political-optimism will prevail is the key-attitude with so many.

Martelly’s Challenge.

Even if change in style, is evident. Symptomatic: the Te deum protocol, Duvalier’s etiquette resuscitated at May 14th ceremony inauguration... At continuation, the challenge is there and on going!

Wouldn’t it be beneficial for Matelly’s regime to court/convince/negociate with the members of Parliament having in mind the marriage of convenience? The 1987 Constitution prevailing. The clanic ‘elites’ (surfing the new regime) merging with the clanic group of individuals, determined, highly valuable self-made men: The Parliament , (even if tainted partisans of the previous ‘status quo’ Preval party Inite.) Such an occurrence seems anti-natural allowing doubts and questions: Who will intervene and what incentives or instruments of coercion could be used to help cohesion?

Meanwhile, on the visa matter... For the ones, the Haitians who can afford it, a visa entails essentially the possibility to travel- beyond borders for the mere purpose of exercising current business, important and ordinary activities, thus recuperating upon returning home, a seemingly normal life[i].

After all, traveling is a way of dealing with all kinds of needs, business enterprises and family-wise. What it does in actuality it allows an exercising ones right of movement. Decent Haitians moving around, going around about their activities and conveying that Haiti will not stay isolated and ruined in its corner, forgotten and buried under the tons of rubble still on site to date....Even if this refer to a limited group of the population... Again, Visa is a key in a closed wall.

Haitians entwined in a country depending on imports, urgent health-care, high level education, cannot travel without a US visa in order to go about their necessary business to alleviate every aspect of their life.

Circulation or capacity to move -from one place to another one- is obviously for Haitians today a matter of life and death.

As necessary as this visa can be, J.B.A. Dumont sent it back. He refers to higher aspirations beyond concrete interests. One man raises his personal seemingly feeble voice in what seems to be a desert, he says he needs no drop of water to lessen his thrust, for he is proud and consequent.

His concept: ‘A visa is not a matter of heavenly paradise’. Even if it could be a matter of life and death. This Deputy finds justification of his act in the name of honor-dignity, and coherency with laws of his country (sovereignty).

Public opinion is divided. -Some tend to judge this decision as courageous. It's not at all a surprise – for - Haitian people are not only a spiritual but extremely proud.

Realism and pragmatism being in this instance detestable! -Others, on the other hand suggest maneuvering.

When a Haitian citizen decides to give up his visa, in reference to Dumont’s decision of forgoing his visa-privilege desired by many, one gets intrigued: Who in his right mind would forgo these days such a benefit? Let go of such possibility that could eventually help in saving one’s life? Insecurity prevailing, bullets are deadly, surgical intervention might be urgent and only a US Hospital may provide it.

Dumont spells it out for himself (he says his decision only engages himself) as a call for decency, a call for recuperation of Haitian dignity taken lightly by the US diplomat. The infuriated deputy of Leogane in the name of real democracy rebels against nasty political intervention and pressure.

Most importantly, who does not remember the weight of the visa issues in the cases of our ex. Presidents? Without a visa Jean-Claude Duvalier could not have made his surprise comeback from France. Could Jean-Bertrand Aristide have landed from South Africa? Were their visas still valid? Who did deliver the necessary visas at some point?

Also a historical item not forgotten: the so called 'Papa Doc black-list,' which amounted to nothing more than a VISA BLACK-LIST...which kept ‘opponents’ of Papa Doc’ in line. Is it insanity, utopia or a dream?

In this world of communication and trendy citizen revolutions, what is needed here is open frontiers and/or easier access to the developed world. If the deciders/friends: the International Community including the U.S.A. would decide to be towards and really helpful to Haitians, wouldn’t they move to such an open policy regardless of hard facts? Is it too much to ask, is it plain non-sense?

Haitians know what they want but is it too much to ask for what one need? Is it insanity, utopia or a dream? Optimistically combating hard reality, one could hope for the day when all Haitians be allowed to travel freely without this nasty visa obstacle? Why not put this motion forward? And then righteous anger of Dumont could become the inspiration for a wider/fairer claim? For there must be another way to free the Haitians from exclusion...

Isn't it a human right to go as one please?

To make it worse all Haitians are not equals and certainly not equal on the visa issue. Not everyone, not every citizen of Haiti, has access to what is clearly considered a privilege and strangely enough - in no way - a human right.

Being poor is obviously a justification for not allowing people the rights of free movement. Of course what makes a visa so precious is its scarcity. Having a visa is like having a diamond in an emergency kit. Is this document as precious for Haitians as diamond?

Visa: measure of control, pressure, domination.

For the world is divided by ‘the haves’ and the ‘have nots’. The last ones which are not welcomed to visit, and stay. Well what about the ‘haves’, the chosen ones? Attention, it does not mean the chosen ones have it made. The privileged ‘elite’ political, economical elite, is currently kept in strict control first by triage and then, through pressure of obedience: ' Listen, obey. Better act according to the line of the powerful if you want a visa in your kit'.

The ‘ingurance’ exercised by the ambassador of the USA is judged intolerable' et voila': Dumont is exercising his Haitian citizen’s right of rejecting such an elite privilege.

Rebellion Monsieur Dumont in this world equals good-bye visa, good bye America! ... J.B.A. Dumont says he can live without it but is he prepared to endorse this act to the point that the quality of the man he is and his credibility is under scrutiny.

Another issue of divide in Haiti and haitiano-diaspora. Is J.B.A Dumont a trustworthy politician, a good citizen? Is he using rhetoric as well as spectacle for his own advantage? But most importantly what about his citizens in Leogane, his constituency... What should they make of Dumont’s rebellious decision. Brothers’ and sisters’ need to travel abroad for business or family visits!

At another level, to the skeptics who tend to undermine the decision taken by the deputy and even label it as mere comedy: here is a face bookpost concretely addressing this issue: ..Rosa Parks...! Was she stupid when she refused to move from her seat’? The U.S. visa, if not a key to paradise, seems to be another matter of controversy in opinion, a divide in Haitians’ perception. Meanwhile, general opinion: Haitians as well as the Haitiano-diasporas are trying to make good sense of this...

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2011/05/30 relacionado: Open Letter to Mr. Kenneth Merten, U.S. Ambassador to Haiti
2011/08/05 relacionado: EUA Departamento de Estado Buscando Desvire potencial Diáspora
2011/04/26 relacionado: Martelly a diáspora fiscal de US $ 8.5M USD por mês
Fonte: Pouvoir & Michelle

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