Haiti

Haiti A Caribbean country that occupies the western third of the island of Hispaniola.

Physical

The country is mainly mountainous with three main mountain ranges. Much of it is forested but the valleys support agriculture.

Economy

Haiti has a predominantly agricultural economy, with coffee the most important agricultural export; bauxite is also an important export. Tourism has been a major source of foreign exchange. There is some light industry, especially textiles and the assembly or finishing of imported goods.

History

Hispaniola was discovered by Columbus during his first voyage to the New World, and became a Spanish colony in the 16th century. French corsairs settled on the western part of the island in the 17th century and Spain recognized the French claims to the area in 1697 in the Treaty of Ryswick. Known as Saint Domingue in the 18th century, it became a rich source of sugar and coffee for the European market. African slaves replaced a decimated Indian population and by the end of the 18th century the population of Haiti was predominantly Black. French rule was challenged in 1791 by a slave insurrection led by TOUSSAINT L'OUVERTURE.

The country declared its independence (1804) and DESSALINES was proclaimed emperor. After his assassination (1806) a separate kingdom was set up in the north, while the south and west became republican. The country was re-united in 1820 as an independent republic. Haiti and the eastern part of the island (later the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC) were united from 1822 to 1844. In 1859 it became a republic on its own again, whose anarchic history has been exacerbated by the hostility between the Black and mixed race communities. The USA, fearing that its investments were jeopardized and that Germany might seize Haiti, landed its marines (1915) and did not withdraw them until 1934. The country was dominated by President François DUVALIER (1957–71), and by his son and successor, Jean Claude (1971–86). When the latter was exiled to France, a council assumed power. A new constitution and elections followed, but they in turn were followed by a series of military coups and violence under General Prosper Avril. Strikes and yet more violence ended his regime, and elections in December brought a dissident Roman Catholic priest, Jean Bertrand Aristide, into office. In September 1991 rebel troops seized the President and civil violence flared up against a new military regime. Aristide fled to Venezuela and appealed to the ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES (OAS) for help. International aid was suspended and trade sanctions imposed, but negotiations failed. An army-backed government led by Prime Minister Marc Bazin came to power in June 1992. Renewed OAS and US diplomatic efforts at restoring President Aristide to office led to the appointment by Aristide of a new Prime Minister, Robert Malval, in August 1993. An upsurge in army-and police-sponsored violence, however, prevented Aristide's return, while increased sanctions held the economy in a state of crisis. In September 1994 US troops landed on Haiti to oversee the transfer of power to Aristide, following an agreement with military leaders negotiated by former US President Jimmy Carter. Aristide returned in October and, in March 1995, military authority was transferred from the US-led multinational force to the UN Mission in Haiti (UNMIH). In mid-1995 the Lavalas Political Organization, endorsed by Aristide, won legislative elections, but results were contested by opposition parties and the elections were marred by irregularities and violence. Presidential elections in 1995 were won by René Préval, an associate of Aristide. However, a dispute over the appointment of a new Prime Minister in 1997 remained unresolved in 1999 and led to the scheduling of fresh elections for November that year.

Capital:	Port-au-Prince
Area:	27,400 sq km (10,579 sq miles)
Population:	6,781,000 (1998 est)
Currency:	1 gourde = 100 centimes
Religions:	Roman Catholic 80.3%; (of whom about 90% also practise voodoo); Protestant 15.8% (of which Baptist 9.7%); Pentecostal 3.6%; non-religious 1.2%
Ethnic Groups:	Black 95.0%; Mulatto 4.9%; White 0.1%
Languages:	Haitian (French) creole, French (both official)
International Organizations:	UN; OAS