Caribbean Integration

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Caribbean Integration
An ever-Illusive Concept

I know that those who have taken the decision to virtually block Haitians from the Cricket World Cup, by imposing visa restrictions, do not have a reasonable rationale for it. They have tried to explain it across Caribbean media, but with an, ironically, blank fact sheet.

What greater illusion there could be, when we speak of regional integration, while functioning in an extreme protectionist attitude treating our brothers as if they were terrorists?

What can possibly explain such misconception of the concept of integration?

Also, to what extent would even capable Haitians endeavor to stand the cost of attending an event which has not yet been introduced into the sphere of Haitian culture?

I can assure you that if there were any slight good- will behind the idea, the Cricket world Cup would have been used as an opportunity for cultural exchange between Haiti and the Eastern Caribbean.

It would certainly not be an occasion for alienation, disdain or quarantine.

To sharpen your awareness, we who make up the Haitian intelligencia are conscious of the steps that we all will have to take to help our neighbors understand that the people of Haiti has never forgotten its original position in the Caribbean 'family' if there is such a word. We Haitians, who have facilitated the free movement of the concept of freedom from utopia to reality, will not remain silent in this post colonial era. We observe that our Caribbean brothers, seem to believe that they too, should emulate the imperialist attitude which sets the human family into this binary condition of master/slave, privileged /unprivileged, Haitian (visa) /Caribbean (no visa).

We will not bow to this integration which holds true only for our heads of state while the rest of us are treated like complete aliens.

Integration and alienation are binary operations.

We cannot hold both in the same container.

Indeed, Caribbean Countries will have to understand the necessity to harness a better understanding of that nation which we call Haiti.

In the construction of perception the senses are not passive.

So far, as one who has been studying in Jamaica, I have come to realize that, for the most part, ignorance make up 90 % of what many Eastern Caribbean Citizens believe about the Island.

And I have reason to believe that, decision makers; they too, have no idea what constitutes Haitian society.

Perhaps, to them, it is only boat-people and poor people, nothing else! Please stop making Haiti such a casualty of your perception, get informed, try to understand the dynamism of regional cohabitations, consider vivid aspects of the European Union, measure their levels of compromise and stop making Haiti this "buffalo" on which you must place your yoke every time you dream of being a Master.

It is unfortunate that you should try to make the Cricket world Cup a Haitian Free event.

I guess you still have no Idea what the concept "Haiti" means.

I can assure you, you will, yes you will. No! This is not a terrorist threat, it simply fits well into the idea of sharpening your awareness that the Giant is now awakening.

I am etc...

Louinel Jean
icmnloui [at] hotmail.com

Louinel Jean, February 7 2007, 3:42 PM

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