Duvalier Cost The People Of Haiti $500 Million

Jean-Claude Duvalier was arrested in Haiti this week for human rights abuses and corruption

Former Haitian President, Jean-Claude Duvalier and his family, cost the people of Haiti, an estimated $500,000,000 in stolen and misappropriated funds. The pillaging took place during his father François' tenure and his own. Had this money been properly invested, it would have reaped many millions more for Haiti's poor.

Duvalier and his family hid money abroad, purchased expensive sports cars, designer clothes, Louis Vuitton luggage, a chateau in France and an apartment in Paris. These unjustifiable expenditures infuriated Haitians at home and abroad, as they witnessed as their loved ones went without.

During a time of national financial struggle, Duvalier's wedding to Michele Bennet cost Haiti's taxpayers $3,000,000. A multi-million dollar home in Haiti was also given to Bennet's family to live in luxury as well (it was later seized by a new government and turned into an orphanage).

Currently, Haiti is considered the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere and it is not the Haitian people's fault. The earthquake is not the main reason either. Haiti, a nation of 10,000,000 people, should not be in this financial predicament and it is squarely due to the Duvalier years in office.

Haitian people worked hard, paid their taxes and it was squandered by the Duvaliers. Money that was needed to create jobs, expand infrastructure and build on social programs, went to bankrolling one family's lifestyle that almost rivaled Marie Antoinette and Saddam Hussein in extravagance.

None of the Haitians I know in Miami have ever spoken well of the Duvalier family. The mere mention of the Duvalier name brings back painful memories of tumultuous times in their beloved nation's history.

However, Haiti is at a crossroads. Like many nations, it has experienced a terrible natural disaster. It is time to rebuild on a new foundation and forgive old grievances, to help national emotional wounds heal. If Duvalier wants to help Haiti, as he has stated, he should give the nation his financial support and leave the governance to the next elected President.

Haiti Arrests Former President Jean-Claude Duvalier

A visibly ailing, Jean-Claude Duvalier, made his way from France back to his homeland of Haiti, only to be arrested hours after he touched down, for human rights abuses committed when he was President of the island nation.

At the age of 19, Jean-Claude succeeded his father, Francois Duvalier, as President of Haiti. He was unprepared for the role his father appointed him to, as he was not duly elected by the people and knew very little about successfully running a nation.

Jean-Claude Duvalier was ensconced in office from 1971-1986. During his bloody reign, over 60,000 Haitians were tortured and killed for opposing his rule. Duvalier and his money loving wife, Michele Bennett, looted Haiti's coffers to fund their very extravagant lifestyles.

The couple frequently took shopping trips, spending $100,000 on each outing. While they lived the high life, a segment of Haiti's population suffered in poverty and infirmity in City Soleil, which was originally named after his mother Simone Duvalier (Cite Simone).

Jean-Claude Duvalier in Haiti this week

Duvalier is being made to face the music this week and is a shell of his former self. He has the appearance of someone struggling with Parkinsons disease or Alzheimer's. It is a stark contrast to the Duvalier of 1986.

When he and his family fled Haiti for France, after a national uprising, Louis Vuitton bags lined the runway adjacent to their plane. They had pilfered millions of dollars from Haiti's treasury, only for it to be seized by world governments.

Duvalier, a former head of state, was humbled, forced to find work as a janitor in France to support himself. It was just and poetic, for all he and his family had stolen from the people of Haiti.

By this time, his wife had fled, stating she married the President of Haiti and not a pauper. During times of adversity, one learns who one's true friends are. His mother died embittered, after years of being pushed aside in favor of his wife's presence in his government, then losing their stolen possessions.