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  Jean-Pierre Boyer and the 1825 Ransom: Choosing the Lesser Evil to Secure Haiti’s Survival By Patrick Prézeau Stephenson (Le Français suit) By 1825, Haiti stood at a crossroads that no young nation should ever have faced: total war against the most powerful navy in Europe — France — or accepting an unbearable financial burden to guarantee its sovereignty. President Jean-Pierre Boyer, often criticized for his acceptance of the "ransom of independence," made the grim but rational choice: faced with the threat of military annihilation, economic blockade, and renewed slavery, signing the ruinous indemnity agreement was the safer path to preserve Haiti’s very existence. The Heavy Legacy of Isolation and Threats From its birth in fire and blood in 1804, Haiti found itself shunned by the colonial powers of the Atlantic world. France, in particular, refused to recognize the legitimacy of a Black republic forged by formerly enslaved people. Instead, from 1814 onward, the French Bou...

  Response to Macron’s Comments on Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) By Patrick Prézeau Stephenson (Le Français suit) Introduction The relationship between Haiti and France is deeply rooted in history, characterized by the legacies of colonization, revolution, and the enduring complexities of postcolonial dynamics. French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent comments at the G20 summit, describing Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) as “total morons” for their dismissal of Prime Minister Garry Conille, warrant a measured but firm response. These remarks, though perhaps born of frustration, undermine the historical context, the sovereignty of Haiti, and the shared responsibility of the international community toward Haiti’s crisis. Historical Context of Haiti-France Relations 1. Colonial Legacy and Independence Haiti's independence in 1804 came at the cost of immense bloodshed and resilience against French colonial exploitation and slavery. While the Haitia...

  Unlocking Haiti's Political Stalemate: CARICOM Missions and the Quest for an Agreement By Patrick Prézeau Stephenson     (Le français suit) Introduction: Haiti, a nation entangled in an enduring political stalemate, finds itself once again at a crossroads. The recent conclusion of the fourth CARICOM mission, marked by the failure of political actors to forge an agreement, highlights the profound challenges that have rooted the country in a prolonged state of uncertainty. In this essay, we delve into the complex issues contributing to the political deadlock in Haiti, drawing insights from the "L'Appel du Lambi" Manifesto and considering the implications of the recent CARICOM missions. Historical Shadows: To decipher the present, one must scrutinize the historical shadows cast over the Haitian landscape. The nation's narrative, a tapestry woven with threads of resilience, struggles for freedom, and recurring political turbulence, shapes its current dil...

  How can France Honor its Debt to Haiti? Patrick Prézeau Stephenson et al., Collectif du Manifeste L'Appel du Lambi. September 2023   The ransom demanded by France following the Haitian revolution of 1804, which resulted in Haiti's independence, has weighed heavily on the shoulders of the young Haitian nation for two centuries. The exorbitant sum of 150 million gold francs (300% of its GDP), equivalent to about $30 billion in 2000 and more than $80 billion in 2023, has been a crushing economic burden. This article explores how France can begin a new era of cooperation with Haiti by honoring its historic debt. The Recognition of the "Ransom of Independence" In 2015, former French President François Hollande recognized these payments as the "ransom of independence." However, this recognition has not been followed by tangible actions to repay this historic debt. The French government of the time quickly reclassified this debt as moral rather tha...

  La Cession de la Louisiane et la Rançon d'Haïti à la France : Comparaison et Analyse   Patrick Prézeau Stephenson et al., Collectif du Manifeste L’Appel du Lambi. Septembre 2023     Introduction La cession de la Louisiane par la France aux États-Unis en 1803 et la rançon versée par Haïti à la France pour son indépendance en 1825 sont deux événements historiques majeurs qui ont eu un impact significatif sur l'histoire des deux nations. Cette étude comparative se penchera sur les similitudes et les différences entre ces deux événements, en examinant leurs contextes historiques, leurs conséquences politiques et économiques, ainsi que leurs implications pour les peuples concernés. Contexte Historique Au tournant du XIXe siècle, deux événements majeurs ont profondément marqué l'histoire des Amériques et ont eu des conséquences durables sur les destins de la Louisiane et d'Haïti. La cession de la Louisiane à la France par l'Espagne en 1800 a ouvert une page importante d...