George Wright (BBC News) The new committee reports that it will study the history and impact of the enormous debt (150m of gold franc) imposed on Haiti in 1825 and study in exchange for its independence (achieved in 1804).
French President Emmanuel Macron says he will establish a committee to study the impact of the large debts imposed on Haiti in exchange for independence just 200 years ago.
Macron said a panel of French and Haitian historians would make recommendations to build a more “peaceful future.”
Haiti gained independence from France in 1804, but in 1825 France ordered the previous colony to pay 150m of gold francs to compensate French slave owners and ensure hostilities.
Debts that were not repaid until 1947 helped Haiti become one of the poorest and most unstable countries in the Americas. Debt is a source of anger among Haitians, and has called on France to pay back the money.
It is unclear whether the committee’s financial reparations are on the table.
The French regime acknowledged the historical errors of slavery in Haiti and other former colonies, but avoided a real debate about whether to return “independent debt.”
Macron said the debt “put a price on the freedom of the young country, but it faced the power of unjust history from the very beginning.”
“Once this necessary and essential work is completed, the committee will propose recommendations to both governments, allowing them to learn from them and build a more peaceful future,” he added. [. . .]
For the complete article, please refer to https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c39j7k1n48mo
