Isn’t it sad that one of the first independent countries in the Americas, after the United States, continues to falter when it comes to forming a stable representative government? The Republic of Haiti, and we use the term lightly, gained its independence from Napoleonic France in 1804. Since that time the nation has been ruled by tin pan dictators, military tyrants and everything in between. Like other failed states around the world, the consequences of such tyranny are easy to see. Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world. Its citizens lack basic resources, quality education is non-existent and rule of law is a joke.

Haiti is rich in vegetation and has a host of natural resources, but dictatorship, coups and failed democratic elections have rendered these resources useless.

Only this week, has Haiti become embroiled in yet another election controversy with accusations of fraud and vote rigging. The government, such as it is, has ordered a review of the election results, but regardless of the outcome violence can be expected. After over 200 years of mob rule, the people of Haiti aren’t likely to accept any result, which they oppose without their trademark rioting and mob violence.

According to UN officials, who have been providing security as well as monitoring the election results, there is no evidence of election fraud. Such a pronouncement will not sit will with opposition leaders, who like tyrants around the globe will stir the pot of protest in the hope of winning the desired result.

Can Haiti ever be reformed? That’s anybody’s guess, its been tried countless times. Both the US and the UN have tried to create working representative forms of government on the island nation, but to no avail. Unless Haitians embrace the rule of law and renounce mob violence Haiti will remain a backward poverty stricken dump, overlooked by foreign businesses as a means for investment.
Link to article @ Canada.com