The Wire

Haiti is a country in turmoil. In recent times its democratically elected government has been overthrown twice, and the transitional government has no popular support. President Aristide is in exile, but given the chance he would be back by popular demand. And no wonder – his legacy includes doubling the minimum wage, demands of reparations from France, imposing taxes on businesses and demobilisation of the army. This upset the rich and powerful of Haiti, who teamed up with ex-military people and took the country at gunpoint. Bill Quiggley, a professor of law in New Orleans, spoke to Peter Godfrey about what’s been happening in the country.