STILL severely reeling from the devastation of that massive earthquake that hit it more than a year ago, the last thing Haiti needs is another disaster – natural or man-made.
Now its already strained political landscape has been unsettled by the return to the country over the weekend of former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier, popularly known as ‘Baby Doc’, in the country.
There is something very strange here as there was no previous announcement of his visit and knowing the political history of the Duvalier family, one would wonder whether there are sinister moves ongoing in relation to seizure of political power.
The current terrible state of Haiti, apart from the devastating earthquake, is due largely to the brutal dictatorial rule and plundering by the Duvalier family.
Taking over power from his father, Francois ‘Papa Doc’ Duvalier, ‘Baby Doc’ ruled Haiti almost like his father did. He continued the brutal torture, murder, repression and witch-hunting of political opponents by the ‘Tonton Macoutes’, the much dreaded terror army of the Duvalier dictatorship.
‘Baby Doc’ fled to exile in France after a popular uprising in 1986 but may still have a lust for power.
Is he seeing a golden opportunity, amid the chaos and confusion as a result of the earthquake and the current political squabbling, to seize power once again and declare himself president for life like he and his father did when they held power?
Surely, ‘Baby Doc’, while in exile in France, would have been in constant communication with his loyal servants, supporters and sympathizers in Haiti, to keep abreast of the political situation because it is unlikely that he totally abandoned the idea of regaining the sweet taste of political power.
His sudden arrival certainly gives more than fair reason to suspect that he is working with former despotic colleagues towards a plan to regain power.
After all, living exiled in France is a costly affair, despite the huge wealth he amassed from plundering Haiti and its people. His funds may be running low and there may be need to supplement what he currently has.
Apart from this, despotic dictators are addicted to power because of the obvious benefits it brings to them. Therefore, keeping people like ‘Baby Doc’ out of power is like telling a tiger not to eat meat.
While in France he must have been planning and calculating how to get back into power and probably concluded that this is the best time to step in and make his move.
His presence in Haiti could lead to further instability or could influence the democratic and progressive forces to stop squabbling among themselves and unite if there is a signal that ‘Baby Doc’ is working towards seizing power.
In the meantime, CARICOM, the OAS, the UN and other regional and international bodies, should be keeping a close watch on the situation in Haiti and monitor closely the political activities there, particularly those of ‘Baby Doc’ — including who he is meeting and what kind of political activities he is engaged in.
Haiti simply cannot afford another ‘Baby Doc’ stint of power. The country has suffered too much for too long and if ‘Baby Doc’ seizes power, in light of the earthquake, it would be like adding gasoline to fire.
Those in the Caribbean and further afield cannot allow another political tragedy in Haiti.