L’île autrefois connue sous le nom d’Ayiti, Hispaniola, Saint-Domingue, Kiskeya ou Bohio
Opinion | The Island Formerly Known as Ayiti, Hispaniola, Santo Domingo, Quisqueya, Kiskeya or Bohio By Patrick Prézeau Stephenson (Le Français suit) There are many ways to spark a diplomatic crisis on the island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic. You could mention migration. You could mention history. You could mention the border. Or — if you’re truly committed to chaos — you could simply say the island’s name. This week, a Haitian footballer did exactly that. He pointed at the ground and declared that Ayiti is the true name of the island . Not a manifesto. Not a territorial claim. Not a cartographic coup. He pointed at dirt. And yet, the reaction was so explosive you’d think he had tried to annex Santo Domingo using shin guards and a corner kick. The Island With a Full-Blown Identity Crisis Let’s be honest: this island has more names than a reggaeton artist with tax problems. Haitians call it Ayiti , because that’s what the Taíno called it lon...