Restitution of the Independence Debt: The Plea of the Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats Party to the French

PARIS.— The Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats party has undertaken steps with French authorities to obtain for Haiti the restitution of the ransom demanded by Charles X in 1825 in exchange for the recognition of Haiti's independence. The president of the Fusion has already met with representatives of the French socialist party, parliamentarians, and correspondence has been addressed to President Emmanuel Macron on this matter.

In the context of various meetings with representatives of the socialist party, Edmonde Supplice Beauzile reports having presented the state of Haiti's situation, to allow her interlocutors to better understand the consequences of this ransom on the country's future.

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The steps undertaken by the Fusion with the French Socialist Party have convinced French authorities to assume this historical responsibility, strengthening the will to pursue dialogue, Beauzile emphasized.

The president of the Fusion of Social Democrats party insisted on the moral aspect of reparation to argue the meaning and necessity of restituting this debt. “For us, restitution is a way to quantify reparation and assign a number, a currency to it,” she maintained.

Recognizing the injustices done to Haiti through this ransom, establishing a Haitian-French committee still guarantees nothing, Ms. Beauzile suggested. “The committee will focus on reparation, it is historical, but it is up to us, Haitians, to demand the restitution of the sum paid to Charles X,” Beauzile declared.

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The various communications from Haitian authorities have justified France's involvement in the matter. Edmonde Supplice Beauzile regrets that diplomacy has not taken advantage of this to rebuild its image on the international stage.

As for what form the reparation will take or how to restitute the ransom, the authorities in place still have no idea. She believes this is hardly the priority of this transition. Meanwhile, the French are working on a resolution concerning the debt and France's responsibilities in resolving the Haitian crisis, while the directorate of the Fusion of Social Democrats party has not been contacted by the CPT to obtain a report on its efforts, Beauzile laments.

While Haitian authorities focus on the joint commission that will, perhaps, repeat or confirm history, French communities, particularly those overseas, have shown themselves to be more pragmatic and sensitive to the reparation of this injustice done to Haiti.

According to the president of the Fusion party, her efforts have led to promises in the area of migration in favor of Haitians in the French Antilles, avenues for interventions in the university sector, and other commitments for which her party cannot be the direct interlocutor.