Dear Editor:

Although Toussaint L'ouverture was given all the credit, it was Bookman, a slave sent from Jamaica, who organized the slave revolt in Haiti in 1791, like Nat Turner would attempt in James Town, Virginia, United States ,40 years later.

Explored by Columbus on December 6, 1492, Haiti's native Arawaks fell victims to Spanish rule.

In 1697 Haiti became a French Colony of Saint Dominique, which became a leading sugar cane producer dependent on slaves.

In 1791 an insurrection erupted among the 480,000 slave population in Haiti, resulting in the declaration of independence by Pierre Dominique-Toussaint L'ouverture in 1801.

Napoleon Bonaparte suppressed the independent movement, but it eventually triumphed in 1804 under Jean Jacques Dessaline, who gave the New Nation the Arawak name Haiti. It was the first independent Black Nation in the post-slavery era.

The revolution wrecked Haiti's economy. Years of strife between the light skin mulattos who dominated the economy and the black population, plus dispute with neighbouring Santo Domingo, continued to hurt the nation's development.

After a succession of dictators — such as Dessaline, the ferocious; Christoph Henry; and Souloque, the butcher — bankrupt Haiti accepted a United States Customs receivership from 1905 to 1941. Occupation by United States Marines from 1915 to 1934 brought stability.

Haiti's high population growth made it the most densely populated nation in the hemisphere. In 1949, after four years of democratic rule by President Dumarsis Estime, dictatorship returned under General Paul Magloire, who was succeeded by Francois (Papa doc) Duva-lier's in 1957. Duvalier Secret police ensured political stability by brutal efficiency; his son, Jean Claude (Baby Doc) Duvalier, succeeded him as ruler when he died in 1971. Unrest generated by economic crisis forced Baby Doc to flee the country in 1986.

You don't have to be a genius to see the subtle way in which the Republic of Haiti is being undermined; some may say that it is because of a succession of dictators, but the reason is more profound.

Because of Haiti's aggressive history, going all the way back to slavery, powerful nations will continue to keep the Republic of Haiti in check.

That is why among critical thinkers, the destabilization of Haiti is no surprise.

Yours sincerely,

Prince G. Smith

Freeport, Grand Bahama