| "> | | | | While you are reading this article, several hundred |
| Megalomaniacal Despots | | | | thousand children will go to bed without food. |
| At the beginning of 1986, Haiti's dictator Jean-Claude | | | | Meanwhile, more than eight million people does not |
| Duvalier, also known as "Baby Doc", and First Lady | | | | have access to fresh water, electricity, and health |
| Michele Bennet were overthrown by Henri Namphy. | | | | care. Over half of the Island's GDP is provided by |
| Haiti's 1971-1986 military dictatorship had been one of | | | | remittances and international aid. By 2008 this |
| the most brutal anti-democratic governments in Latin | | | | Caribbean nation -- where there are approximately |
| America. Meanwhile, thousands of political dissidents | | | | 642 people per square kilometer-- received $ 1.8 billion |
| and intellectuals were killed. By that time, the Duvalier | | | | from its citizens who live in America, Canada, Europe |
| family had deposited over $ 150 million into special | | | | and the Dominican Republic. It also received over 800 |
| accounts in abroad. In May 1980, Jean-Claude, Francois | | | | million in US aid from 1994 to 2006, one of the highest |
| Duvalier's son, and Michele had one of the most lavish | | | | in the world's developing countries. On the other side, |
| weddings in the world (cost about $3 million). | | | | between 1986 and 2005 the new dictators and |
| Following the death of Francois Duvalier, also known | | | | warlords were widely condemned by international |
| as "Papa Doc", Jean-Claude came to power in the | | | | organizations. Why? Over 5,000 people were killed for |
| early 1970s. Certainly the Duvaliers became a dynasty. | | | | political reasons, and thousands fled the Island. |
| During his years as the country's most powerful figure, | | | | Haiti - Latin America's Worst Education System |
| Papa Doc had strong links with several African nations. | | | | Despite being one of the first independent republics in |
| Also during that period, more than 30,000 people were | | | | history, Haiti, one of the smallest nations in the Western |
| assassinated by Tonton Macoutes, a personal police. | | | | Hemisphere, has become an impoverished nation since |
| Haiti's dictator Francois Duvalier had inspired the | | | | the mid-1800s. Why? Without a doubt the key issue is |
| best-selling 1968 novel "The Comedians" and the film | | | | the poor state of the Island's education. Unfortunately, it |
| of the same name directed Peter Glenville, and starring | | | | has the worst education system in the Americas, from |
| Richard Burton, Alec Guinness and the South | | | | Alaska to Patagonia. The black republic has one of the |
| African-born Zakes Mokae. | | | | highest illiterate rates in the world: Over 80 percent of |
| On February 7, 1986, after the coup d' etat against | | | | the country's people. Most children - more than 70 |
| Baby Doc and Michele Bennett, the new regime was | | | | percent-- don't go to schools. But after January 12, the |
| welcomed by a crowd of people, including children and | | | | situation has become chaotic. In Port-au-Prince, a host |
| teenagers. Twenty-two years on, why are things so | | | | of schools have been destroyed. Several school |
| bad on the Island? What really happened in Haiti? Few | | | | children have died. In many countries of the Third |
| things have changed since February 1986. | | | | World, the poor education is an open door to the |
| Extreme Poverty | | | | dictatorships, narcotraffic, and terrorism. |