Haiti

Haiti is a nation located in the Caribbean on the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. The poorest country in the Americas, with one of the lowest per capita incomes in the world, Haiti has an annual gross domestic product (GDP) of approximately $790 per person. Haiti's population totals approximately 9.8 million, of whom over 90 percent are of African descent, with most of the remainder classifying themselves as being of mixed race. Haiti's official languages are French and Haitian Creole, and 80 percent of the population profess to be Roman Catholic with the remainder identifying as protestant. Haitian voodoo continues to be practiced by certain segments of the population.

Based on United Nations (UN) estimates, rates of illicit drug use in Haiti are similar to those in other nations in the region. Approximately 6 percent of the population between the ages of 15 and 64 consume marijuana annually. Like in most other nations, marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug. Nearly 1 percent of the population use cocaine annually and approximately 0.2 percent use opiates. Although illegal narcotics or other controlled substances are not widely cultivated or manufactured in Haiti, it has been alleged to be the site of drug trafficking and other money laundering practices. U.S. drug policy has been concerned with reducing drug trafficking and money laundering, much of which has been traced to Haitian political leaders and governmental agencies.

Haiti's geographic location in the Caribbean, coupled with its largely undeveloped landscape, make it susceptible to drug trafficking operations. Nearly two-thirds of Haiti's population makes their livelihood from agriculture, with many of these involved in subsistence farming. Mountains cover much of Haiti's terrain, which severely limits the amount of arable land and makes the smuggling and trafficking of narcotics difficult to track or discourage. The unemployment rate in Haiti has been above 50 percent for the past 20 years, with unemployment rising to approximately 70 percent on several occasions. Although the manufacturing sector employs only about 10 percent of Haiti's workforce, it accounts for the bulk of its exports, with cheap labor employed chiefly in the manufacture of textiles, detergents, flour, sugar, beverages, edible oils, soap, butter, and cement. Professional and other services make up the remainder of the workforce, approximately 25 percent of Haitians, and accounts for roughly 50 percent of the GDP. The lack of opportunities and severe poverty make the economic opportunities presented by drug smuggling and trafficking attractive. The lack of political stability, and the tradition of [Page 344]government corruption, have also contributed to the growth of drug trafficking.

Founded after a revolution in 1804, Haiti is the world's oldest black republic and one of the Western Hemisphere's earliest nations. Despite these accomplishments, Haiti has long had a tradition of unstable governments, revolutions, and corruption. The United States, because of its proximity to Haiti, has often been involved in Haitian affairs, even sending troops to occupy the nation between 1915 and 1934. After the American forces left, Haiti continued to experience political turmoil until the election of François “Papa Doc” Duvalier in 1956. Duvalier, who was declared “President for Life” in 1964, relied upon rural militias, voodoo, and immense personal popularity to rule until his death in 1971, at which point he was succeeded by his then 19-year-old son, Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier.

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