Does former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide broadly share the PAPDA critique?
Chalmers: Aristide has on many occasions been very critical of the economic policies of structural adjustment. But many people ask why it is that when he was in power, he did not go further than he did. Even at times when former Prime Minister Claudette Werleigh had a strong critique of the structural adjustment package, the general orientation of Aristide’s program was not radically different than what is being proposed right now. Many in the population think that his critique is merely expedient — that it is only something for today, and is linked to his aspirations to be president in 2001. He has a new political party, Lavalas Family, which has the goal to recapture the presidency. In any case, the concerns addressed by President Aristide are generally just. I must however stress the fact that PAPDA is an independent organization of civil concern which has no relationship with the political party directed by the former president. MM: Would Haiti benefit from Aristide returning to t
