Haiti continues to press for $22 billion reparations

Thursday, November 20, 2003

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti: Haiti is making serious efforts to get France to pay restitution of nearly $22 billion, according to Haitian Foreign Minister Joseph Antonio. 

According to a recent report by Reuters, France colonized the Caribbean nation in the 17th century and imported African slaves to work the sugar cane and coffee plantations. The slaves rebelled, killing or driving out their French rulers, and Haiti declared independence in 1804.

France demanded 150 million francs, worth about $28.3 million today, as compensation for the loss of its colony and the Haitian government paid 90 million of that, enough to plunge the country deeply into debt for decades.

In April, President Jean-Bertrand Aristide demanded that France pay restitution, specifying $21,685,135,571.48, which takes into account inflation and interest.

After first refusing to discuss the matter, French President Jacques Chirac finally appointed Regis Debray, a left-wing intellectual, to head a commission to investigate the possibility of restitution.

Some critics believe the money, if paid, would go to waste in a government they view as corrupt. The running joke is that France agreed to pay the entire sum except for the 48 cents, to which Aristide replied, "But then what will be left for the people?"

Others say the government's approach will fail to persuade France, or that the discussion itself will hurt relations between the two countries.

But many are hopeful about the prospective cash flow, while recognizing the process could take years and the sum could be altered. 

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