“The Ransom” is a new in-depth series published in The New York Times that shows how the political involvement of France destroyed the economy of Haiti. France forced Haiti to pay huge compensations because of their loss of slaved labour. In 1804, enslaved Haitian labours rebelled and founded the first Black republic of the world.

The Threat

In 1825, Haiti, under the continuous French military threat, agreed to give compensation to France because they (France) lost control of property that they controlled illegally. They even demanded compensation for the lost possessions of enslaved Haitians. France continuously threatened Haiti that if they do not give compensation (150 million francs) they would reinvade as well as reinforce slavery.

The Crisis

Haiti started taking loans from different French banks to pay compensation. The process led them to a national financial crisis and they are still suffering because of that decision. According to the report, Haiti, in the next 7 decades, had paid an equivalent of USD 560 million to France. But the number would be around USD 115 billion if the true financial cost of Haiti is considered. And that is just a part of the whole economic tragedy of Haiti.

The Responsible Parties

The report, “The Ransom,” exposes everyone to an exploitative system that has been there for more than 100 years. It also gives an account of the numerous private partners from the economic industry who has been directly involved in the process. But interestingly, the report found the involvement of countries like the US, Germany, the UK, and France who played a significant role in making Haiti a financially vulnerable country by imposing the debt.

There have been campaigns in the last few decades to find countries like the US and France responsible for the socio-economic damages that have taken place in Haiti. But the world did not listen seriously because the cry had been coming from the Haitians. It is because of the racist mentality we could not address the unethical systematic exploitation of Haiti by the white supremacists like the US, Germany, the UK, and France. It is time to find them accountable for everything they did to countries like Haiti.