A lot of news articles have been written in the days leading up to the announcement and since...not so long ago, the same was thing was happening in the US. I don’t know that President Obama ever had such a wild streak as the man to become the next president of Haiti. But he will try to bring about change too. For better or worse, the people spoke.
We heard cheering as if we were in the center of a stadium. Beyond the walls of our property, people will shouting for joy, singing for joy and playing their carnival horns. Cars in the street were honking- not in the usual manner of I’m passing or I’m here but for happiness of the news heard over the radio that Michel ‘Sweet Mickey’ Martelly, the kompas king of Haiti was elected president of Haiti. We were smiling too, knowing had it gone the other way, we wouldn’t be hearing these sweet sounds of victory but the sounds of civil war in the city of Port au Prince and through out the country.
Its not the official announcement but the preliminary results show by 67% of the votes the Mr. Martelly will become the new president in May. Mrs. Manigat has graciously conceded that the people have voted for change, for a new democracy to rebuild their country again. Over 60% believe Martelly will be the one that can lead the country out of the disaster zone. The others will stand by to see if he can do it or if he wil trip over his dancing feet. No doubt he will trip a time or two, maybe often. He has the power of the people behind him today. Only time will tell if he can keep it beyond tomorrow. Mr. Preval is the only president to serve his complete term, twice, so odds are not in Sweet Mickey’s favor. Haiti’s history has been turbulent for most of more than 200 years.
Obviously it has survived in the worst of conditions. Its time that these conditions were changed. Its time the people became the government and not the other way around. I hope the strength they have shown will carry them forward but like a river that meets the dam they have to use the power of the tide to carry them through the difficulties.
Where will they begin? People need to be able to work to feed their families, to send their children to school, to receive health care; they need a decent wage, they need decent education and they need educated health care workers. If a man can earn a wage that affords him these basic needs, he will begin to work for his country too.
The International communities need to recognize that they don’t need left over donations but mentoring to strengthen what they already have~ a will to see change, a belief that it will come in a new direction.
I don’t know that I would have voted for Martelly but I’m happy that the people voted, expressed their desire for change. Its a start. Time to roll up the sleeves, turn up the music (maybe not quite so loud) and make it work.
Good luck Mr. President. Bon chans Ayiti!
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