Haiti: 'Victory over adversity'

2003-12-10 20:42

Erika Gibson

Pretoria - The 200th anniversary of the first black republic in the world, Haiti in the Caribbean, should serve as an example to South Africans that it was possible to achieve victories, despite opposition.

Ronnie Mamoepa, spokesperson for foreign affairs, defended the South African government's decision to spend R10m on Haiti's independence celebrations on January 1.

He said the revolution on this island also would focus on the challenges of development, progress and a better life for all.

South Africa has made 70 officials and experts available to Haiti to help with logistics for the celebrations and the navy vessel, SAS Drakensberg, is carrying another 200 military support personnel to the island.

Mamoepa said the cabinet already had approved the budget for the festivities as part of South Africa's own celebrations of 10 years of democracy.

Large-scale corruption

The cabinet approved R50m for South Africa's local celebrations.

President Thabo Mbeki, Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and several other senior government officials will attend the Haiti celebrations amid international criticism of human-rights abuses and violent oppression at the hands of the island's police.

Virtually all foreign development aid to the island has dried up after protests against the government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the terrible economic situation, alleged election fraud and large-scale corruption.

The Democratic Alliance criticised what it called the "wasting of money".

Roy Jankielsohn of the DA said on Wednesday: "The South African government should stop concerning itself with less-important international events and concentrate on issues on the home front.

"South African taxpayers' money and military equipment and staff are not there to boost President Mbeki's ego in the far-reaches of the world."

- Beeld