Meanwhile, Haiti, having finally finished paying off that crushing debt in 1947, has spent nearly eight decades trying to stitch its society back together under the weight of crippling interest rates, repeated coups, devastating earthquakes and hurricanes, and today’s rampant gang violence that has driven thousands from their homes. Yet somehow Macron’s answer in 2025 is more committees and academic hand‑wringing. Because nothing says “we care” like inaugurating a study group instead of sending a check.
Back in France, life has gone on splendidly. High‑speed TGV trains whisk travelers from Strasbourg to Marseille at over 300 km/h, while Michelin‑star chefs continue to dazzle taste buds and inflate food critics’ egos. And when Notre‑Dame’s roof and spire were engulfed in flames in April 2019, Parisians gasped for five long years until that grand cathedral sprang back to life on December 7, 2024, rebuilt to even greater glory at the expense of nearly €700 million and a thousand craftspeople’s sweat and tears. In under six years Notre‑Dame rose from the ashes, whereas Haiti is still trying to put out the fire of historic injustice.
So here’s the burning question: will Haiti need to wait until the 400th anniversary of its independence ransom in 2225 to see any real reimbursement? Will the French senate convene yet another round of philosophers and archivists in 2125 just to ponder whether it’s “nice” to send money? Critics in Port‑au‑Prince already call the new commission a stalling tactic, insisting that true justice requires concrete restitution, not a century‑long lecture series.
One can only imagine the invite list for that 400th‑anniversary gala: “Esteemed historians, please join us as we finally consider transferring a few euros to the nation you bled dry two centuries ago.” In the meantime, Haiti endures under the shadow of one of history’s great heists, while France basks in its restored monuments, speedy trains, world‑class cuisine and, of course, endless opportunities to explain its crimes instead of atoning for them. At this rate, your great‑grandchildren might see a refund, assuming they’re not still picking through the rubble.
Nan dat 17 avril 2025, Prezidan Macron finalman leve je li sou meni manje midi li nan Pari, li deklare ke fè Ayiti peye 150 milyon fran ajan (ki pita bese pou 90 milyon) pou li gen pwòp libète li se “yon chay enjis sou libète yon nasyon jenn,” epi li anonse imedyatman yon komisyon istorik fransè‑ayisyen pou “eksamine pasé nou pataje a.” De san ane apre Wa Charles X te mare yon zam sou tèt Ayiti pou fòse l bay yon ranson, Lafrans pral etidye ensilt la pito pase voye menm yon sèl fran reparasyon vre.
Pandanstan, Ayiti, ki te fin peye dèt sa a ki t’ap kraze l an 1947, pase prèske uit deseni ap eseye kole sosyete li ansanm anba pwa enterè ki t’ap etoufe l, koudeta repete, tranbleman tè ak siklòn devastatè, epi vyolans gang k ap gaye jodi a ki fè dè milye moun kite kay yo. Men nan 2025, repons Macron se plis komite ak diskisyon akademik. Paske pa gen anyen ki di “nou o kouran” tankou lanse yon gwoup etid olye pou voye yon chèk.
Lafrans, li menm, ap kontinye bèl lavi li. Tren gwo vitès TGV ap pote vwayajè soti Strasbourg rive Marseille a plis pase 300 km/h pandan chèf kizin Michelin‑star ap kontinye sezi palè epi gonfle ego kritik gastronomik yo. Lè tèt ak espir Notre‑Dame te pran dife an avril 2019, Paryen yo te rete bouche bè pou senk ane jiskaske katye sakre sa leve ankò sou 7 desanm 2024, rebati pi bèl toujou ak prèske 700 milyon ero ak dlo je mil atizan k ap travay san pran souf. An mwens pase sis ane, Notre‑Dame te sòti nan sann li, pandan Ayiti toujou ap eseye fèmen dife enjistis istorik la.
Kidonk men kesyon dife a: èske Ayiti p ap oblije tann jiska 400yèm anivèsè ranson endepandans lan nan ane 2225 pou wè yon ranbousman vrè? Èske Sena fransè a pral reyini yon lòt gwoup filozòf ak achivis nan ane 2125 jis pou reflechi si li “bèl” pou voye lajan? Kritiken nan Pòtoprens deja rele nouvo komisyon sa a yon taktik pou gaspiye tan, yo ensiste ke jistis reyèl mande restitusyon konkrè, pa yon seri konferans ki dire yon syèk.
Nou ka sèlman imajine lis envite gal 400yèm anivèsè sa a: “Chè istoryen, tanpri vin jwenn nou pandan n ap finalman konsidere transfere kèk ero bay nasyon nou te seche san de fwa de san ane de sa.” Pandan tan sa a, Ayiti ap soufri anba lonbraj youn nan pi gwo vòl istorik yo, pandan Lafrans ap pran plezi nan moniman rebati li yo, tren rapid li yo, kwizin mondyal li yo, e natirèlman, opòtinite san limit pou eksplike krim li yo pito pase padone yo. Dapre rit sa a, pitit pitit pitit ou yo ka wè yon ranbousman — si yo poko toujou ap fouye nan sann yo.
