Haiti, once hailed hopefully as one of the bright new stars in democracy’s firmament, is fading. Last year, the people of this former slave Republic chose Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a Mandela-like figure and the country’s first democratically-elected President, to return to the helm. But lately, thousands of protestors have rioted in the streets, calling for his ouster.
His government is stymied, charged with corruption and human rights abuses. Haiti is always the poorest nation in the hemisphere. Its desperation is deepening as the United States and the rest of the international community withholds millions of dollars in aid. Some say this will only add to Haiti’s horrors, others say it is the stick that’s needed to ensure democracy.
Guests:
Mildred Aristide, wife of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide
Alex Dupuy, professor of sociology, Wesleyan University
and Nancy Dorsinville, medical anthropologist at Harvard University