Last night’s debate between Haitian presidential candidates Mylande Manigat and Michel Martelly showcased a regional socio political movement that both candidates represent well. Mme Manigat is a well-educated seventy year old university professor, groomed in her ex-professor’s political party RNDP (Rassemblement National des Democrates Progressistes) for the past forty years. Mr Martelly recently turned fifty and spent the last twenty years as a very successful musician and entertainer in Haiti and abroad, whose social work turned more toward political activism since last year’s devastating earthquake.
Both candidates illustrate the difficulties and great challenges created by a faulty educational system based mainly on a catholic school elitist model where “many are called and few are chosen”. Private schools represent more than ninety percent of the school population and public schools fail miserably in comparison. Forty percent of Haitian children don’t ever go to school; less than twenty percent get a secondary education. Competition is fierce to remain at the top of the class making group work counterproductive; only the best pass the grade and will remain in school. Every year the elimination process continues inexorably leaving the crème of the crop at the end of high school; a majority of the precious minority of educated Haitians slowly fall through the cracks.
Although a good education undoubtedly better prepares you to find a job, it’s no guarantee you will succeed in life. However, even if you don’t get a good formal education you may nevertheless be successful in life. In Michel Martelly’s case, that’s just what happened: his potential, talents and upbringing were the winning combination to become the successful Sweet Micky. He became the first Haitian musician to raise his family and live large based on the money he earned playing music with his band.
Tèt Kale, Martelly’s electoral pseudonym referring to his bald head, now wants to become president of Haiti and Myrlande Manigat and intellectuals such as her who have spent their lives at the top of their class snubbing the students in the back row cannot fathom the idea. “You cannot compete with me Michel”, she giggled at him condescendingly last night. However, Michel can and he clearly proved that during the debate last night. His performance was strong; he exuded confidence, a broad base knowledge of the issues and was at ease in front of the camera and unequivocal answering unfair personal questions presented by opportunistic journalists. Michel is a charismatic candidate, he has a passionate following and seems in line to becoming the next president of a new generation of Haitians who perceive the elder political class as pretentious, well-educated failures.
Michel Martelly may soon join the ranks of Ruben Blades in Panama, Correa in Ecuador, Lula in Brazil; non-traditional politicians voted into office to deliver the economic democracy traditional politicians have been promising for the past 30 years.
