Haiti – FLASH : 2025 Roadmap for the restitution of the ransom of independence
19/12/2024 08:13:10
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At the end of the retreat on reparations and restitution of the ransom of independence, organized by the Haitian National Committee on Restitution and Reparation (CNHRR) from October 17 to 20, 2024 in Port-au-Prince https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43456-haiti-retreat-restitution-of-france-s-debt-and-reparations.html, the Committee unveiled the main recommendations made, which will serve as a roadmap for 2025.
“1. Declaration of the year 2025 as the Year of French Restitution :
April 2025 will bring back the bicentennial of the ordinance of Charles X, which required Haiti to pay 90 million francs for more than a century. It is recommended to request the Haitian Government to declare the year 2025 as the ‘Year of French Restitution to Haiti’.
2. Formal Note to the French Government:
The CNHRR recommends that the Haitian Government officially transmit through diplomatic channels a Formal Note to the French Government for the request for restitution of the “ransom of independence” and the compound interest and damages. The Haitian Government is encouraged to quickly initiate an official dialogue with France for the establishment of a “Mixed Commission for the restitution of the ransom of independence.”
3. Review of necessary documents and archives :
The CNHRR will facilitate its various experts’ access to the most relevant archives for the documentation necessary for the work of the Committee. In addition, the CNHRR will establish a functional collaboration with the competent services of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti for the actuarial and updated calculations of the amounts for restitutions and reparations.
4. Collaboration with the MENFP for the reform of education :
The emphasis will be placed on the reappropriation of national history by strengthening education from primary school onwards, highlighting the participation of slaves, women, and anonymous masses in the revolution. On the occasion of the curricular reform underway in the Haitian school program, the CNHRR will have to facilitate the revision of certain contents of the Haitian school.
5. Organization of Awareness Workshops:
Educational workshops will be organized for authors of school textbooks, writers, artists, historians, and young creators to explore themes related to slavery and colonization (resistance, memory of slavery, women in slavery, etc…)
6. Production of cultural works:
The production of cultural works (poetry, fiction, music, dance, theater, painting) will be encouraged to raise awareness of these issues among the population. The CNHRR will undertake, with the filmmaker Arnold Antonin, the production of a documentary film on restitutions and reparations.
7. Restoration of historical monuments and museification of the territory:
In order to preserve the national heritage and strengthen the feeling of popular belonging, the CNHRR will support the Haitian Government in its mission to restore historical monuments (Citadel, Sans Souci Palace, Palace of the 365 Doors in Marchand Dessalines, etc…) At the same time, local authorities will be encouraged to identify and promote historical sites in their territory. The Ministries of Culture, Tourism and the Interior and Local Authorities may be called upon to contribute to this perspective.
8. Communication Plan and Community Engagemen:
A strategic communication plan must be implemented to raise awareness and involve the different segments of the Haitian population in the reparation and restitution processes. Partnerships with popular and feminist organizations are essential to address the aftermath of colonization, particularly the impact on women.
9. Organization of Public Conferences and Webinars :
The CNHRR will organize conferences and webinars on a regular basis to inform and raise awareness among the general public on the different aspects of restitution and reparations.
10. Organization of meetings with UEH Professors and Students :
The CNHRR will organize exchange and discussion meetings with the different components of the UEH in order to create more support for this approach within the UEH.
11. Organization of symposia :
The CNHRR will quickly set up the organizing committees for 2 symposia, the first in May 2025 on “Memories of Slavery, Haitian Thought and Reparations” and a 2nd in July 2025 on “Restitutions, Reparations and Public Health” in order to coordinate the reflection efforts on these essential questions.
12. Strengthening ties with the CRC:
The CNHRR will strengthen its working and collaborative relationship with the CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC) in order to form a common front to build the broadest possible consensus against the former colonial powers.
13. Building Alliances and Partnerships:
The State University of Haiti will ensure that a network is built around the National Committee by inviting different groups and groups of universities, inter-university and academic organizations, religious organizations, organized civil society organizations in Haiti and abroad in order to strengthen the pressure forces of the CNHRR in the fight for restitution and reparations.
14. Legal approach and international collaborations :
It is advisable to combine judicial and non-judicial procedures to address the issue of reparations. The CNHRR plans to strengthen its collaboration with many international partners and allies such as: the International Reparations Movement (MIR) of Martinique, the CUNY Law Clinic, the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti in the USA, etc…
15. Use of restitution proceeds:
A crucial element of the overall file and the negotiation with France will consist of the intended use of the sums to be returned, the terms and pace of restitution as well as the necessary transparency to be ensured. In this perspective, the Committee should quickly address this issue and propose a plan relating to it. A search for existing investment plans will be launched and their harmonization with a view to a global plan will be initiated. Obviously, the Ministries and State agencies concerned will be called upon to provide their collaboration in this regard.
These recommendations aim to structure restitution and reparation actions while strengthening national and international awareness.
See also :
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43456-haiti-retreat-restitution-of-france-s-debt-and-reparations.html
https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-42728-icihaiti-ueh-restitution-of-the-independence-debt-by-france-monitoring.html
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42325-haiti-flash-the-ueh-will-work-on-the-restitution-by-france-of-the-independence-debt.html
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42185-haiti-flashin-geneva-haiti-calls-for-help-from-the-un-for-the-restitution-by-france-of-the-independence-debt.html
HL/ HaitiLibre