Following is a literal translation of a translation of the 21 July 2015 letter mostly likely written in French by former Ambasador Daniel Supplice of Haiti to his President Michel Martelly. The notes conveys the frustration of Haiti's ambassador in the Dominican Republic and his decision to not be an accomplice of recent actions of the Haitian government.
"Mr. President:
After having borne for 92 days the honor, respect and national conscience and the two-color national patriotism in the land of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella, I have the honor to deliver the position without stains, with the glorious wrinkles of patriotic feeling of having been useful. I beg that you understand that the decision of making this symbolic gesture is not the result of passing emotion nor a particular interest, nor a hidden agenda.
The habit of clear, precise, coherent instructions in harmony with the diplomatic norms and the practices of public administration have lead me (after all this time) in a framework of results to give more weight to the objective reality of things than the reports.
It is with calm, wisdom and vision that conflicts between states are resolved. The management of relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic demands rational and reasonable players, and where amateurism and improvisation have no place.
The Dominican Republic is a neighbor with whom we are condemned by geography to live together despite the uneven development that accompanies a marginal differential access to goods and services.
I have written several letters that unfortunately have been left unanswered and, in my last report of 14 July, I took the precaution of renewing the urgency with which the Haitian diplomacy had to manage the crisis, not only in the framework of logical defense of national interests, but always favoring constructive dialogue. It is the responsibility of the Ambassador of Haiti in Dominican Republic to ensure that a balance between respect for the dignity of our people, our values, our morals and customs are maintained, keeping open, in a realistic way, dialogue. You know why? Because as you read these lines:
Thousands of our brothers and sisters continue to cross the border "Anba fil" in search of a better life;
Dozens of women and young Haitians, everyday, give birth to children in Dominican hospitals;
Forty four thousand three hundred ten (44.310) youths attend state universities and private colleges, not forgetting those who, living on the border, go to the primary and secondary schools in the Dominican Republic in the morning and return at night to Haiti;
Many are those who return to their country voluntarily for all kinds of reasons in recent days, their plan is to resume the work they have left or where they are expected;
Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children continue to sell their day's work in farms, in extremely difficult conditions, but do not think of returning home;
Hundreds of thousands of people await in vain the promised documents that would have allowed them to regularize their immigration status. That is the other side of reality that we have a responsibility to manage!
In 211 years, we have not succeeded in reducing socio-economic gaps or mitigating the thorny question of color. Neither have we been able to give our citizens a birth certificate proving that they exist and creating a situation that could prevent millions of Haitians from leaving the country at all costs and sometimes in any condition. If we do not accept the fact that there is a problem, there will be no solution.
Mr. President,
I understand the logic of Haiti?s past, the labyrinth of its history, the missed steps, the moods, the ambitions but especially its deficiencies, weaknesses, limitations and disappointments. I also know our brothers and sisters with their love of life, love of country, respect for the founding fathers, the pride of African descent, also with their disdain for the truth and an attitude, often irresponsible in the handling of public affairs.
Using a metaphor you will understand, those that are mounted on the carriage, at the beginning of the procession, do not leave until the end of the parade. Generally, I go all the way, but some incidents compel me to change on the path to avoid the unfortunate judgment of history.
Mr. President
The country expects you to be firm and not a prisoner of past reports or advice from suspect offices. People who trust you, and have allowed you to reach the highest office in the state, are counting on you. I'm not the first ambassador of the Republic of Haiti in Dominican Republic to be suspended, but I hope to be the last to prevent that precisely across the border, the belief persist that the defeat of intelligence seems to be a constant, the national failure of foreign policy seems to be too much."
See the Spanish version:
Carta de Daniel Supplice al presidente Martelly
"Mr. President:
After having borne for 92 days the honor, respect and national conscience and the two-color national patriotism in the land of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella, I have the honor to deliver the position without stains, with the glorious wrinkles of patriotic feeling of having been useful. I beg that you understand that the decision of making this symbolic gesture is not the result of passing emotion nor a particular interest, nor a hidden agenda.
The habit of clear, precise, coherent instructions in harmony with the diplomatic norms and the practices of public administration have lead me (after all this time) in a framework of results to give more weight to the objective reality of things than the reports.
It is with calm, wisdom and vision that conflicts between states are resolved. The management of relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic demands rational and reasonable players, and where amateurism and improvisation have no place.
The Dominican Republic is a neighbor with whom we are condemned by geography to live together despite the uneven development that accompanies a marginal differential access to goods and services.
I have written several letters that unfortunately have been left unanswered and, in my last report of 14 July, I took the precaution of renewing the urgency with which the Haitian diplomacy had to manage the crisis, not only in the framework of logical defense of national interests, but always favoring constructive dialogue. It is the responsibility of the Ambassador of Haiti in Dominican Republic to ensure that a balance between respect for the dignity of our people, our values, our morals and customs are maintained, keeping open, in a realistic way, dialogue. You know why? Because as you read these lines:
Thousands of our brothers and sisters continue to cross the border "Anba fil" in search of a better life;
Dozens of women and young Haitians, everyday, give birth to children in Dominican hospitals;
Forty four thousand three hundred ten (44.310) youths attend state universities and private colleges, not forgetting those who, living on the border, go to the primary and secondary schools in the Dominican Republic in the morning and return at night to Haiti;
Many are those who return to their country voluntarily for all kinds of reasons in recent days, their plan is to resume the work they have left or where they are expected;
Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children continue to sell their day's work in farms, in extremely difficult conditions, but do not think of returning home;
Hundreds of thousands of people await in vain the promised documents that would have allowed them to regularize their immigration status. That is the other side of reality that we have a responsibility to manage!
In 211 years, we have not succeeded in reducing socio-economic gaps or mitigating the thorny question of color. Neither have we been able to give our citizens a birth certificate proving that they exist and creating a situation that could prevent millions of Haitians from leaving the country at all costs and sometimes in any condition. If we do not accept the fact that there is a problem, there will be no solution.
Mr. President,
I understand the logic of Haiti?s past, the labyrinth of its history, the missed steps, the moods, the ambitions but especially its deficiencies, weaknesses, limitations and disappointments. I also know our brothers and sisters with their love of life, love of country, respect for the founding fathers, the pride of African descent, also with their disdain for the truth and an attitude, often irresponsible in the handling of public affairs.
Using a metaphor you will understand, those that are mounted on the carriage, at the beginning of the procession, do not leave until the end of the parade. Generally, I go all the way, but some incidents compel me to change on the path to avoid the unfortunate judgment of history.
Mr. President
The country expects you to be firm and not a prisoner of past reports or advice from suspect offices. People who trust you, and have allowed you to reach the highest office in the state, are counting on you. I'm not the first ambassador of the Republic of Haiti in Dominican Republic to be suspended, but I hope to be the last to prevent that precisely across the border, the belief persist that the defeat of intelligence seems to be a constant, the national failure of foreign policy seems to be too much."
See the Spanish version:
Carta de Daniel Supplice al presidente Martelly
