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François Hollande

The fall of Francois Hollande in Haiti

The fall of Francois Hollande in Haiti

Here is a picture of French President Francois Hollande during a visit in Haiti on May, 12, 2015. He actually fall in a stairway as he was going up to speak

France won't pay Haiti Reparations: Martelly says it's Time to Move On

President Francois Hollande arrived in Port-au-Prince with a commitment to invest $145 million into Haiti's economy. Although government and business sectors welcome Hollande's largesse, protestors with long memories about France's extorting $20 billion from Haiti as payment for its independence, are fuming.

One protestor shared how many feel about France's wresting $20 billion in reparations for plantation owners' losses: "We Haitians know . . . a big reason why we are suffering today is because we were forced to pay France for our freedom . . ." An event coercing Haiti to pay ". . . ten times the country's annual revenues . . ." was a world-wide embargo led by the French in 1825. French warships threatened to bomb Port-au-Prince harbor if Haiti didn't pay up.

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We have a moral not financial debt to Haiti, François Hollande

We have a moral not financial debt to Haiti, François Hollande

Look at this picture. French government has a big load hanging on top of country. It is the Haiti debt that it owes and it involves restitution for the money the young nation was obligated to pay to France after they fought for their independence. Ironically, French president François Hollande who visited Haiti in May, 2015 stated that We have a moral not financial debt to Haiti".

Two hundred years ago, when Haiti became the first independent black republic after defeating the army of then French Monarchy, it vowed to pay the French ruler, King Charles X an "independence debt of 90 million gold coins". The extorted bounty was distributed among the white slave owners for the loss of "property" they claim to have suffered as a result of the abolitionist Haitian Revolution. Thus, the country was forced to pay most of its national wealth to the French for own freedom. This barbaric ransom was collected between 1825 and 1947 through a French ordinance that threatened to re-enslave self-liberated Africans. This could be a good reason for present suffering of the country. As per 2003 estimate, the Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide demanded $22 billion from France as the cost of restitution. On Saturday, May 9th, during the inauguration of the Caribbean Centre of Expressions and Memory of Trafficking and Slavery (ACTE) in Pointe-à- Pitre, Guadeloupe, the French President François Hollande had said that "in Haiti, I will pay the debt we have." Although his announcement received a rousing applause from the audience, but according to the French National Palace, nowhere he had mentioned that France would be repaying the Haitian independence ransom of $23 billion (at present value). His statement indicating moral debt only without mentioning any monetary value was criticized in Haiti because the collection of the ransom for independence is undoubtedly an act of immoral and illegal turpitude.

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France to build high school in Coteaux, Francois Hollande Visit

France to build high school in Coteaux, Francois Hollande Visit

One of the agreements signed during the visit in Haiti of French President Francois Hollande is the construction of a high school in Coteaux

Hollande says France is pledging to invest $145 million from 2015-2020 in infrastructure improvements. Of that amount, $56 million will be used to develop the education system. Protestors feel otherwise. They demand much more money in reparations be spent on education, healthcare facilities, and the road system.

Some citizens though believe Hollande may provide more job opportunities than currently exists. And it is interesting to note France forgave the remaining $77 million owed by Haiti following the 2010 quake.

Martelly and Hollande sign Six Bi-lateral Agreements

During French President Hollande's state visit, he and President Martelly acted as co-signatories on six bi-lateral agreements between both countries:

Updating National Institute of Professional Training to form division of water trades.

Building a high school in Coteaux, funded by Association of French Regions.

Allowing Haitian farmers to export organic bananas.

Creating a financial recovery plan for Electricity of Haiti.

An agreement between Civil Aviation General Directorate, Air Navigation Directorate, and Civil Aviation National Office.

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Michel Martelly driving France President Francois Hollande to airport

Michel Martelly driving France President Francois Hollande to airport

Here is a picture where President Michel Martelly was personally driving France President Francois Hollande to airport following his visit to Haiti

Martelly says its okay France doesn't pay Haiti Reparations

President Martelly has been under fire for agreeing with French President Hollande France need not repay $21 billion, extorted from Haiti as penance for claiming its independence in 1804.

Hollande will, though, invest in projects, especially the Free and Compulsory Education program, with funding of 50 million Euros.

Martelly said "such repairs . . . can . . . open the way for development for Haitians, who have never had the same educational opportunity

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Francois Hollande Haiti and restitution for independence debt

Francois Hollande Haiti and restitution for independence debt

Here is a view of a group of Haitians who were not so happy with the visit of Francois Hollande in Haiti in May, 2015.

French President says No to Reparations for Haiti

French President Hollande made a visit to Haiti recently. President Martelly glossed over France's unwillingness to pay reparations, readily accepting the $145 million in infrastructure projects from them.

Protestors are frustrated Hollande, like other presidents of France, say it owes ". . . only . . . a moral debt . . . not financial compensation."

France forced Haiti to pay $21 billion for an "independence debt" to guarantee its freedom in 1804.

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Francois Hollande in Haiti protesters demand reparations

Francois Hollande in Haiti protesters demand reparations

Here is a picture of some group of Haitian protesters demanding reparations during a visit of Francois Hollande in in Haiti.

When Hollande and Martelly arrived at Champ de Mars to honor heroes of the Haitian revolution with a wreath-laying, 200 demonstrators came to voice their opinions on France's part in ruining Haiti's economy. Until the mid-20th century Haiti labored to retire the debt, but $77 million was still owing. France forgave the balance after Haiti's 2010 earthquake.

Haiti is not France's only victim of blackmail. But Martelly understands if France pays reparations to Haiti, France would be pressured to recompense other countries it has stolen from. Martelly told Hollande ". . . no compensation can repair the wounds of history . . . . Haiti has not forgotten, but Haiti is not stubborn."

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Francois Hollande and Michel Martelly in Haiti

Francois Hollande and Michel Martelly in Haiti

Here is a picture of French President Francois Hollande and Michel Martelly during his visit in Haiti

Hollande's visit brought out protestors, who are angry over France's indebtedness to Haiti. France forced Haiti to pay France $20 billion dollars as recompense for its sugar plantation owners' loss of income, after the slave revolt drove France out of the country. $77 million of the debt was finally forgiven when Sarkozy ruled.

For years France has admitted wrong-doing over the unfairly assigned debt, but does not feel obligated to pay back the $20 billion. They regard the debt to Haiti a moral one not a monetary one. Martelly agrees, acknowledging a "grand injustice" was done but dismissing the issue as "no reparation can change what happened years ago."

Hollande has committed to more financial support of Haiti's infrastructure. France plans to invest $145 million USD to improve the education sector among other projects.

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Francois Hollande welcome in Haiti

Francois Hollande welcome in Haiti

Here is a picture marking the arrival of Francois Hollande in Haiti

French President Hollande says France owes only a Moral Debt to Haiti

In the more than two hundred years since Haiti achieved its independence from France only two visits have been made by a French head of state. The first was Nicolas Sarkozy, and recently current leader, Francois Hollande, made a stop in Port-au-Prince.

Hollande's purposeful visit was to visit the reconstruction of Haitian University Hospital, demolished during 2010's earthquake. Less than half of the hospital remained standing. France and its funding partner, the U.S., gave a total of $50 million for rebuilding. It is expected to be finished in 2017. Martelly and Hollande acted as co-signatories on several agreements to improve trade between the two countries.

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Francois Hollande to handle debt to Haiti without financial reparations

Francois Hollande to handle debt to Haiti without financial reparations

French President Francois Hollande made a surprising statement n regard to the debt to Haiti on his way to Haiti. At the inauguration of a memorial for slavery in Guadeloupe on Sunday, May 10, 2015, he evokes France's 'Debt' To Haiti, but refused to admit that France will pay back the money owed.

Pressure has been mounting on France to pay back the money it has asked Haiti to pay after Haiti's independence. Some believe that this obligation on the new republic after its independence is a major factor in the poverty of te island. In 2013, Francois Hollande evoked France's "debt" toward Africa. In 2010, President Nicolas Sarkozy became the first French seating president to visit Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Over 200 years ago, when Haiti became the first black independent Republic of the world after defeating the army of then French Monarchy, it agreed to pay France an "independence debt. In 1825, the French ruler, King Charles X agreed to recognize Haiti's independence after 14 years of bloody battles on condition that the new Black Republic will pay 150 million gold francs in ransom. It was later reduced to 90 million gold coins and the extorted bounty was distributed to the white slave holders for the loss of "property" they claim to have suffered as a result of the abolitionist Haitian Revolution. Haitians believe that it could be a big reason for Haiti's present suffering because the country was forced to pay most of its wealth to France for own freedom. Between the years 1825 and 1947 (140 years after the abolition of the slave trade), this barbaric and illegal ransom was collected through violent means with an official French ordinance which threatened to re-enslave the self-liberated Africans. On April 7, 2003, the value of the infamous Charles X ransom was estimated at around $22 billion by the Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and he demanded its restitution. For most Haitians, the recent visit of the French President François Hollande to encourage investment is reminding them how their ancestors were punished by the French and forced to pay a big price for country's successful slave revolt for independence.

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Michel Martelly at Elysee Palace with François Hollande

Michel Martelly at Elysee Palace with François Hollande

When Haitian President Michel Martelly arrived at Elysee Palace in Paris on 21 February, he was officially welcomed by French President François Hollande. The meeting between the two presidents was accompanied by important ministers from both the nations. While describing the recent progress of Haiti in many crucial areas, President Martelly expressed his gratitude to the French government and its people for their continued support to Haiti. He encouraged French entrepreneurs to take part in many opportunities available in Haiti. Haiti needs partnership not assistance. He invited French President François Hollande to Haiti. The French President has conveyed France's solidarity with Haitian nation in every respect.

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