Transparans Multi Media, a noteworthy Haitian online newspaper, conducted a poll to capture and understand Haitian opinion and sentiments regarding the various factors that have been meeting to find a way out of the Haitian crisis. The current crisis is preventing Prime Minister Ariel Henry from returning to Haiti, as the gangs control 81% of the country’s most strategic assets after they broke out over 3000 prisoners of the country’s main internment facilities.
The poll was conducted on social media from 7 March to 9 March 2024. It consisted of four questions ranging from the people’s confidence to skepticism about Haitian leaders, negotiating among them and with the International Community to replace Mr. Henry with a transitional government. According to Moise Garcon (Baton Moise), CEO of Transparans Multi-Media, at this juncture, it is critical to unscramble the country from this political conundrum that achieves nothing but uncertainty and collective fears and risks of isolating the country diplomatically.
2,632 individuals, mainly from Haiti, reflecting a spectrum of perspectives and concerns, participated. Their responses offer a multifaceted view of public opinion, gauging their heartfelt sentiments regarding the representatives involved in these negotiations.
Per the survey results, 11% of participants exhibited faith in the representatives engaged in negotiations for Ariel Henry’s succession, signifying confidence in their capacity to safeguard the principles considered vital by the Haitian public. This minority perspective intimates that specific sectors of society perceive these negotiators as credible and competent actors poised to guide the nation toward stability and advancement.
On the contrary, a notable proportion, 31% of survey participants, expressed skepticism, contending that the negotiators fail to align with the Haitian populace’s core principles. This sentiment elucidates a pervasive disenchantment with the prevailing political hierarchy and accentuates a profound lack of confidence in those charged with the governance mandate.
The predominant segment of participants, accounting for 35% of the sample, articulated a sense of ambiguity, suggesting a requisite for enhanced elucidation or data about the degree of congruence between negotiators and Haitian cultural norms. Such ambivalence might emanate from multifarious factors, encompassing a necessity for heightened transparency in communication from governmental figures or the intricate nature intrinsic to the negotiation procedures.
Significantly, a notable 23% of participants unequivocally repudiated the credibility of the negotiators, categorizing them as “spurious entities.” This demographic epitomizes a deep-seated disillusionment and discontent with the overarching political framework, indicative of a call for fundamental reforms and heightened levels of answerability.
The poll findings elucidate the profound schisms and intricacies of Haitian societal dynamics. They unveil a populace with ambivalent sentiments encompassing optimism, skepticism, perplexity, and disenchantment amidst persistent political volatility. Furthermore, they underscore the necessity for transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness within Haiti’s political mechanisms.
To confront these prevailing sentiments and foster renewed confidence within the Haitian populace, stakeholders must accord primacy to transparent discourse, authentic representation, and an unwavering dedication to democratic principles and equitable societal frameworks. Through the cultivation of inclusive and participatory governance mechanisms, Haiti can effectively traverse its myriad challenges and delineate a trajectory toward enhanced stability and prosperity.
Bobb Rousseau, PhD
Knowledge Manager
Data and Trend Analysis
