Haiti suffers today the undeniable corruption led by the previous regime of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The interim government, administered by Judge Boniface Alexandre, is now facing many challenges including public security, human rights violations and the disarming of many groups, many of them supporters of the former president Aristide. Other groups include the elite because they are trying to protect their businesses and also the disbanded army.

After Aristide’s departure, the country experienced tranquility for a period of six months. Children went back to school with no fear of being raped or kidnapped. Businesses were re-opened without the thought of being ravaged. People went back to work knowing that they wouldn’t be shot or that their car would be stolen. Unfortunately, before being dismissed, Aristide distributed a lot of firearms to many of his partisans living in the poorer areas of the county’s capital, Port-au-Prince, so political terror could reign.

This group, “the Rats”, represents a real danger and a threat to the development of the country. They possess illegal weapons and even if legal, they use them illegally. Many innocent people died because of their hideous acts. These so called “Rats” come out of nowhere and kill whomever is in their way. They don’t spare the lives of women and children. These gangs request the return of Aristide from his exile in South Africa. They claim that he was ousted illegally. From their perspective, only the “bourgeoisie” class wanted him removed. Aristide was their “hope” for a better life. During his term, he promised a lot to the poor; Promises that have been broken. These supporters of Aristide operate mostly in the middle of the day, in areas where most businesses are located, the downtown area of the capital.

This situation makes it worse for the vendors because nobody would want to shop under these conditions. As a result, vendors don’t sell anything, thus, can’t make a living. The police armed forces are too small in number to bring to a close this violence and corruption. Their goal is to ensure the security and welfare of the population but these supporters of Aristide constantly stop them from doing their job. Therefore, a support from international organizations is the best that could have happened to support a greater democracy in Haiti. Without security, the economy will not develop. The violence has postponed dreadfully needed development and job creation. More than half of the population lives under the poverty line. Those that are not working but that are making a living rely on the money sent by their family and peers living abroad. Others are just dying of hunger.

What does that say about the future of the country? Due to the constant violence, schools and businesses are closing; the elite are leaving the country. In addition, two hurricanes have hit the country so badly that many Haitians lost their lives and property. Haiti desperately needs the help and economic support of other countries. This violence must stop!

* Milly Barolette, although an American citizen, spent most of her life in Port-au-Prince, Haiti where she was raised. She is currently a Political Science major/ French minor at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia. Her family still lives in Haiti. She often travels to visit them. December of 2004 was the last time she set foot in her homeland.