Haitis Government and Leadership - Case Study Example

Haiti Haiti’s Government and Leadership Haiti is a country located in the Caribbean region. It is specifically located on the western side of the Island of Hispaniola, west of the Dominican Republic. Haiti got its independences from the French in January 1804. The country is a republic, the president being the head of state while the prime minister heads the government. The current president of Haiti is Michel Martelly, elected in 2010 while the prime minister is Laurent Lamothe (CIA par 1). The president who heads the state for a term of five years is elected by the electorate on a simple majority basis. Once elected, the president appoints the prime minister subject to the approval of the country’s National Assembly. The National Assembly of Haiti consists of two chambers which together exercise legislative power. The president and the prime minister of the country together exercise executive power. Haiti’s Demographics The country’s population is predominantly black (accounting for 95% of the population) with whites and mulattos being the main minorities. The country has a population of about 9,893,934 individuals, the country having recently faced a massive earthquake that killed about 300,000 people (CIA par 1). The population comprises individuals who ascribe to different religions. Roman Catholics form roughly 80% of the population, Protestants 16%, the remaining 4% percentage accounting for non-Christians and people who ascribe to no faith (CIA par 1). The population of Haiti is so structured that individuals between the ages of 25-54 is the majority group, account for about 34.8% of the population (CIA par 1). This group is closely followed by the group of individuals aged 0-14 which accounts for about 34.6% of the population. Those aged between 15 and 24 years form about 22% of the population even as those aged 55-64 form about 5% of the population. Those aged at least 65 years account for roughly 4% of the population. Most of the population (52%) resides in urban areas. The median age of Haiti’s total population is 21.9 years while the rate of population growth is estimated at 0.99% (CIA par 1). The country has a death rate of 8 per 1000 individuals and a birth rate of 23.35 per 1000 individuals. The total fertility rate in the country stands at 2.88 children per woman (CIA par 1). The country has a life expectancy of 62.85 for the total population and 64.25 and 61.46 years respectively being the life expectancy for females and males at birth. The Economy of Haiti Haiti is known to be the poorest country in the western hemisphere. The country’s low economic status is especially impacted by the numerous deadly earthquakes and hurricanes that it constantly experiences. The country has 80% of its population living below the poverty line (Theodora par 1). More than half of the country’s population lives in abject poverty. The country’s GDP stood at 7.902 billion USD in 2012 based on official exchange rate. With respect to purchasing power parity, the economy had a GDP of 13.15 USD in 2012 (CIA par 1). In terms of real growth rate, the country’s GDP grew at a rate of 2.8% in 2012. The GPD per capita for the country going by 2012 records stood at 1,300 USD, based on purchasing power parity. Haiti’s economy thrives mainly on services and agriculture. The services sector earns the economy about 60% of the GDP, closely followed by agriculture which accounts for about 24.7% of the GDP (CIA par 1). The industrial sector accounted for about 20% of the country’s GDP in 2012. Some of the main agricultural products that are produced in the country include wood, maize, sorghum, coffee, cocoa, mangoes, and sugarcane. On the other hand, the main industries that drive the economy of Haiti include flour milling, textiles, sugar processing, and assembling (CIA par 1). The country exports to its neighbors products such as coffee, mangoes, textiles, and manufactured goods. It commonly imports goods such as machinery, raw materials, fuels, and food from countries such as the Netherlands and the Dominican Republic among other of its neighbors. With a labor force of about 4.81 million, the country has a high unemployment rate (about 41%). It is estimated that well over two thirds of the labor force are not formally employed, underemployment being a common phenomenon in the country. The country’s inflation rate stands at an average of 6.3%. In 2012, the country had a budget deficit of roughly 6% (CIA par 1). Haiti’s Relationship with Other Countries Haiti maintains a friendly, albeit reserved, relationship with many countries and is a member of several international organizations including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, Interpol, UNESCO, Caricom, G-77, ENWTO, and Union Latina, among others. The country has been on the receiving end in many cases with aid coming from countries from the U.S., Canada, France, and Chile during its civil conflicts. Its relationship with the Dominican Republic has, however, been frosty for various reasons. The government of Haiti and that of the Dominican Republic initially signed agreements to allow Haitians provide cheap labor to the latter (Countrystudies.us. par 1). However, many Haitians crossed borders to the Dominican Republic without undergoing formal procedures which has strained the relationship between the two countries. In 1937, Rafael Leónidas Trujillo, a dictatorial president ordered the massacre of Haitians whom he perceived to be blackening his country, the Dominican Republic Countrystudies.us. par. 2). This event has seen the relationship between the two neighbors remain quite lose and livid. Yet another source of tension between the two countries relates to the differences ion the cultures of their nationals. In spite of this, the two countries have enjoyed mutual benefits from each other with Haiti providing a ready market for goods produced by its main neighbor. Haitians living in the Dominican have often complained of discrimination by their Dominican counterparts. The governments of the two countries so far have not been able to develop a framework to deal with the issue of immigration leaving at least one million Haitians in the Dominican Republic stateless (Countrystudies.us. par 1). Since 1929, Haitians living in the Dominican Republic have been denied acceptance as states people. For this reason, these immigrants have limited access to employment opportunities, healthcare, education and other public services in their new residence. For this reason, many Haitians who would otherwise have liked to immigrate in the Dominican Republic have opted to remain in their country. Haiti has been greatly indebted ever since it attained independence from France. Following the 2010 earthquake that saw the country lose astronomically in terms of property and lives, many countries and organizations opted to waive or lift Haiti’s debt to them (Theodora par 1). In the same year, the country’s foreign debt stood at 1.25 billion USD. The World Bank for example waived a total of 36 million USD worth of Haiti’s debt. In 2011, the country had an estimated external debt worth 783 million USD (CIA par 1). As of 2012 December, the country’s debt stood at 958.2 million USD. In 2012, the country had an expenditure of 2.279 billion USD (CIA par 1). Works Cited CIA. The World Fact Book: Central America and Caribbean - Haiti 2013. 2013. Web.https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ha.html Theodora. Haiti Economy 2013. 2013. Web. Web.http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/haiti/haiti_economy.html Countrystudies.us. Foreign Relations: Haiti. 2013. Web. http://countrystudies.us/haiti/80.htm Read More