Less than a week back, Haiti, a small nation in the Caribbean suffered a massive earthquake of magnitude 7.2, 160 kilometres west of its capital city Port-au-Prince, which injured more than 12000 Haitians and killed over 2000 others. This, at a time when the country hasn't as yet fully recovered from the effects of the earthquake that shook it more than a decade back and killed more than 200,000 people. As the nation - which is strategically and politically important to the United States given its location and the potential to affect the stability of the Caribbean and Latin America - looks forward to the sluggish arrival of relief materials for its 600,000 people who require humanitarian assistance as of now, tragedies seem to be having no end. The quake hit the country at a time when it continues to grapple with the novel coronavirus, gang violence, worsening poverty, continuous rainfall and the July 7 assassination of its ex-President Jovenel Moïse. At such a critical juncture, as the country continues to grapple for the basics, author Ralf Rho, a US-educated and returned Haitian who's built a flourishing career as a former public servant and now an author, talks about the many ways in which the nation can spring back to peace and prosperity in his latest book, The Weight of My Dream.
Published TWOMD publishing house, the book reads in part as Rho's memoir, encapsulating his times in the corridors of power when he served several Haitian administrations including that of the assassinated ex-President, Jovenel Moise, and in part, the book also reads as a forward-thinking manifesto largely based on pragmatism. Through a first-person narrative, Rho talks about those who helped shape him both personally and professionally, the life he built in the US and the nostalgia for Haiti which consumed him ever since that "snowy November day in 1998 when he migrated to the United States as an adolescent."
He proposes five tenets for "any working democracy" to rebuild the Haiti of his dream and hopes that these could in turn spark a national debate and dialogue on how Haiti could benefit from strategically laid out plans for its prosperity. In an exclusive interview with THE WEEK, Rho speaks about the current situation in Haiti, his blueprint for an empowered Haiti and his journey as an author...
What is your Big Dream for Haiti?
The idea to offer with my dream is a vision too critical to contain for Haiti. The book encapsulates my unwavering optimism -- I wanted simply to translate my journey and my story into a five-point blueprint to bring about a constructive dialogue for sustainable solutions for a prosperous Haiti. So drawing from my years serving as an advisor to the late President Moise, I want my book to reaffirm that the past mistakes, natural disasters, political violence and mainly corruption that have become the drivers of Haiti's system do not have to impede the country's growth. Throughout the book, I offer a range of solutions that can lead the country to an era of greatness. So the book is a serious call to action and is emblematic of my generation's optimism, patriotism and sense of unity.
What are the five tenets you think are essential to bringing about a transform the Haiti of the present into the Haiti of your dreams?
Leadership, empowerment, accountability, transparency and justice are all essential aspects to lead the future generations of Haitians to a bright and prosperous future with a better form of leadership that protects, promotes and also provides hope to its people to escape the crippling era of pessimism. With a strong government, an aspiring citizenry and African business traditions, Haiti can undoubtedly benefit from global commerce.
You also advance the proposition for a new government
Yes. A strong government that stands on the fundamental pillars of transparency, accountability, justice and strength. The proper administration of justice must always be guaranteed. It is in fact, the government's responsibility to maintain public order, to protect our lives and this is guaranteed by the constitution and also with the other international accords that Haiti observes. So, without justice being the bedrock of a republic, no democracy is sustainable. It is a must to have a well-functioning and independent judiciary that promotes public confidence in the rule of law.
You've been a former public servant serving in the administration of the assassinated ex-President Moise. How was the experience?
I have worked for many governments. In the Moise administration, I served as an advisor to the President for about twenty-three months. I met the President in May 2015, during a political campaign, at a time when I got back to Haiti from the United States. That was when the ex-President first became a candidate for the Presidency. I was in his team of advisors for that campaign and we then developed a professional rapport that stretched to his final days. After he was elected the President I served as an advisor for a short period and then distanced myself from his office whose values had become incompatible with my own. I think in describing Mr Moise since we met, I found his humility and dedication to the Haitians could move mountains. When we first met he was a very unassuming man who had climbed from humble beginnings to join public service. But the political life back in Haiti has quite a way of changing people into some sort of reactive mechanism. So he became a bit authoritarian in his term and eventually, he lost sight of what truly mattered to the people - which was implementing a national plan for his years in office. Instead, he enjoyed at some level the celebratory moments which clouded his judgement. Nonetheless, while we disagreed on many policies, we often found common ground and shared the vision for a prosperous Haiti. I would advise him on a range of policy matters.
According to you, what could have led to his assassination?
It is clear that the President had made many enemies across sectors in the country and the policies he championed during his term upset many people. The people of Haiti have called for a United Nations Tribunal to oversee the investigation into the criminal act of assassination and the trial is on.
Any conversations you can recall with the ex-president Moise while working with him?
We had a strictly working relationship. I would only see him during work time and the discussions would only centre around policies. He was someone who meant well for Haiti but was restricted at many levels systemically.
It's been one month since the assassination of the President. How's Haiti coping up now and what is the situation like right now?
It's quite a frightful situation as of now. The country is witnessing one political crisis to another with the latest statistics throwing light on the deteriorating economic condition. People are frustrated, inflation has risen considerably, trade and fiscal deficits have widened substantially. The policy response has only led to the exhaustion of natural resources and therefore the economy at large seems to be operating with greater reliance on remittances from the diaspora even more than before. So we cannot permit endemic corruption to fall to its lowest levels. There is a clear lack of clarity and planning that obstructs the productive progression of the country. The point is for our visions to be developed into a practical plan which is inclusive and result-oriented. We have a democracy with too many political parties and we need to reform them into institutions of ideals rather than have our policies being shaped up by the policies of any one leader.
Do you think the ex-President's widow should contest elections after the assassination of her husband?
At this point, everyone is welcome to pitch their proposal to the people of Haiti. The decision on who should lead the country will be reserved for the Haitian people.
What's next for you?
My next book too, hopefully, will be about a prosperous Haiti.
