COUNTRY PROFILE

A slave revolt against the French in 1804 created the first black republic in the world, but, the poorest state in the Western hemisphere, has since been aggravated by over population, soil erosion, drought and famine. The imposition of sanctions by the USA after the 1991 coup further degraded the economy and enriched the ruling class. Haiti has a long troubled history of blood and dictatorships. The deposition of the Duvalier family ended a particularly 30-year brutal dictatorship in 1986. In 1987, a constitution was adopted that provides for an elected bicameral parliament, an elected president who serves as head of state, and a prime minister, cabinet of ministers, and supreme court appointed by the president with Parliament's consent. The Haitian Constitution also provides for the election of mayors and administrative bodies responsible for local government. A succession of coups and military governments aborted all attempts at introducing democracy. The first democratically elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a charismatic Roman Catholic priest, only lasted a few months before being ousted by the army in 1991 followed by official corruption on a massive scale and widespread human rights violations. It is estimated that between 300 and 500 Haitians were killed in the days following the coup, and 3,000 in the following three years. Haiti re-elected Aristide in November 2000 during a controversial election. Even though Haiti was dedicated to satan in 1791, Catholicism is recognized as the state religion. Voodoo has thus affected every level of society. The official recognition of Voodooism, the registration of the National Association of Voodoo Practitioners and nationalistic spirit have led to intimidation of Christians - especially those who speak out against Voodooism. However, many Haitians tend to see no conflict with voodoo traditions of African origin co-existing with Christian faiths.

OVERVIEW

Haiti is densely populated, with approximately 250 people per square kilometer (650 per sq. mi.). About 95 percent of Haitians are of African descent; the rest of the population is mostly of mixed African-Caucasian ancestry with 70 percent of the people living in rural areas. French is one of two official languages, but it is spoken by only 10 percent of the people. All Haitians speak Creole, the country's other official language, but English is increasingly common among the youth and the business sector. Although public education is free, private and parochial schools provide 75 percent of the educational programs offered. Only 63 percent of those enrolled will complete primary school; on average, it takes 16 years to produce a single graduate of the six-year cycle. Though Haitians place a high value on education, most families cannot afford to send their children to secondary school. Recent large-scale emigration to the U.S., and secondarily to Canada and Caribbean neighbors, has created what Haitians refer to as the Tenth Department. About one out of every six Haitians lives abroad. 

FACTS

Population: 7.5 million
Capital: Port-au-Prince
Major language: Haitian Creole, French
Major religion: Roman Catholic, Protestant, voodoo practices
Form of government: elected 
Monetary unit: 1 gourde = 100 centimes
Main exports: assembly plants, handicrafts, coffee
Time zone: eastern standard
International dialing code:

LEADERS


President: 
Jean-Bertrand Aristide

Jean-Bertrand Aristide, 47, was re-elected president on November 26, 2000, with his Lavalas Party winning more than 80 percent of local and parliamentary seats. He first came to prominence as a shantytown priest fighting the Duvalier regime in the 1980s. He became the country's first democratically elected president in 1990, but was deposed by a military coup in 1991. He was restored to power with U.S. military backing, and stepped down, barred by the constitution from serving more than one consecutive term, when his term elapsed in 1996. The most popular politician in the country, Aristide ran virtually unopposed last year while many opposition groups boycotted the election, accusing his Lavalas Party of fraud. 

OBSTACLES TO MINISTRY

• Practice of voodoo mixed in with Christian beliefs.

• Fragmentation of denominations on issues of personality, charismatic growth and liberation theology have divided Christians.

SPIRITUAL POWER POINTS

• Christian literature is not widely available due to poverty and is limited due to illiteracy.

• Two centuries of misrule have led to economic, political and spiritual disaster with 85 percent of the population living under the poverty line and widespread malnutrition.

Special thanks to Patrick Johnstone's, "Operation World" publisher, ISBN# 0-310-40031-7; 
and country profiles by the U.S. State Department