Home »

[granzepon]

Bilan du carnaval de Port-au-Prince

Pas un seul mort mais des centaines de blessés, tel est, de source officielle, le bilan des 3 jours gras. Les responsables du ministère de la Culture, ainsi que ceux de la police nationale, se sont réjouis du déroulement sans violence grave du carnaval cette année.

****************

I think it's not too late to praise the fact that nobody got killed in the Festivities celebrating Carnival in Haiti this year. We should rejoyce and say AYIBOBO and mark that as a sign that violence is a product of the action and inaction of the +/- 5% of the population that holds the country over the semantic alibi of political crisis. In spite of all tractations and mischievous activities that targeted, in a sense or in another, the result of the Carnival -Caravane de l'espoir à Jacmel, etc.- people who organised and took part in those festivities could see a very big and positive difference. The organising commitee deserves credit for it as well as the majority of the Haitian people.

Last year we had the complaint that the police whiped people for any sudden violent move - gagann, etc - but this year there was not such abuse. We had accident from un-safe cars and irresponsible drivers in the parade, this year, we did not have that. We had people taking advantage of Carnaval to hurt or kill others, this year, apart from the apparent drug-related death of Jacmel, we did not have that. We used to have a lot of money and and lot of supports available for Carnival, from sponsors to governement, this year is the worst ever economic crisis, apart from the year of Salnave with the "zòrèy bourik". In spite of all the dire situation of misery that faces the population, the estimation of around 2 millions of people on the streets during the carnaval week end is something worth congratulation.

The president Aristide has already started to plan the Carnaval for the year of our bicentenial independance. The critical situation of the Country allows everybody an opportunity to be sceptic of what might happen between now and then. However it ramains obvious that the majority has set the need to hold firm on what is traditionnally theirs, the carnaval and the space to express themselves. Anytime the +/- 5 %, which messes up the destiny of this country, gives the majority a chance to express themselves, they did and surprisingly without violence, without harsh words, without bottles of pi's, without media-manipulation, without the international community. without any political promise...

History has thought us and given to everyone the possibility to be sound over their jugement of the Haitian Marjority. They are poor of course. But they made 1804 possible. They made 1934 possible. They made 1986 possible. They made 1991 possible -those who were aware then can recall the Euphorie of december 17 of the same year. They resisted the coup d'etat - or all the 32 coup d'etat of our history. The resisted the crisis Preval vs OPL parliament. They went to vote and they are resisting the current political crisis fomented and sustained by a branch of the international community and the +/- 5% of the population.

My hope is that they have once more the opportunity of expressing themselves on matters concerning the future of their country. What if they call for a referendum on what should be the leaders of the people instead of those self appointed puppets? What if everybody accept to go to fair elections? What if a Lula emmerge from the group of less fortunate intellectually and non compromising unionist of our middle class? What if we stop looking at them as OP members, chimè, Sòyèt, restavèk, Moun sal, ti boujwa, etc? What if we consider that every citizen of Haiti has equal right and responsibility on the destiny of this country? What if we love each other more than we do now? What if I start looking for positive intentions on whatever the other does or say? What if I stop wanting to be president or a passive [malonèt] prestigious person in Haiti? What if I stop looking at the poor as a means for me to get rich through NGO's, foundations, organisations, etc? What if...

My hope is also that the "new colons" don't spoil the celebration of the 2004, the bicentenial independance of the majority. I have echo of the boycott of some groups supported by some NGO's to argue on to celebrate January 1, 2004. Shame on those Ojeda, Biassou and Conze of our history. But november 1803 the majority won the battle over the international and prestigious french army. As Mr Paradis is talking of invasion of Haiti, I hope we mark november 2003 in our historical calendar, as a turning point for Haiti and the marjority of the Haitian people who suffered too much, yet silenced, over the electoral crisis raised first by an ambiguous OEA and International Community in Haiti.

Jou va jou vyen, jou sa a.......... Hmm!!!

Salutations patriotiques,

granzepon@yahoo.com