Haiti

Haiti’s claim to fame lies in being the first Caribbean state to declare independence from colonial rule. However, today the country is known more by its backwardness characterized by poverty, civil unrest and political instability.

The land that forms the present day Haiti was once part of the island of Hispaniola by Columbus in 1492. The island was inhabited by the indigenous Taino Amerindians whose very existence was given death blow by Spaniards who established their presence in the island. In the early 17th century, the French began to settle in the island, and in 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of the island, which later came to known as Haiti. The heavy importation of African slaves to engage in the forestry and sugar-related industries made the colony wealthy. The prosperity was not without price. Environmental degradation raised ugly head in the island. The late 18th century saw the revolt of nearly half million slaves of the island under Toussaint L'ouverture, ultimately resulting in the independence of Haiti in 1804. The poorest country in the Americas, Haiti and political violence go side by side for most of its history. In February 2004, President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has to abdicate power thanks to an armed rebellion.

Finally, Haiti witnessed the democratic election of president and parliament in 2006.

Travel overview
Rightly famous for its beaches, Haiti is much more besides. There's certainly enchanting coastline dotted with excellent beaches but there are also lush tropical forests with amazing varieties of flora and fauna. The country also boasts vibrant colonial towns and cities such as Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haïtien and Jacmel. Jacmel’s claim to fame is its French colonial structures. Tourist attractions in Haiti include
the amazing Bassins Bleu Waterfall, Parc National Historique La Citadelle (mountaintop fortress), Parc Macaya National Park), and the ruins of Sans Souci Palace near Cap-Haitien. Tourists are also drawn to Etang Saumatre Lake, country’s largest saltwater lake with over 100 species of water birds.

Capital: Port-au-Prince
Location: Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic
Climate: tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds
Total Area: 27,750 sq km
Total Population: 8,706,497
Population Growth Rate: 2.453%
Sex Ratio: 0.973 male(s)/female
Literacy: 52.9%
Ethnic Groups: black, mulatto and white
Irrigated land: 920 sq km
Languages: French (official), Creole (official)
Time Zone: UTC-5
Currency: gourde (HTG)
Neighbouring countries: Dominican Republic
Type of govt.: republic
Head of Govt.: Prime Minister Jacques-Edouard Alexis
Major Political Parties: Artibonite in Action or LAAA, Assembly of Progressive National Democrats or RDNP, Convention for Democratic Unity or KID, Cooperative Action to Build Haiti or KONBA, Democratic Alliance or ALYANS, Effort and Solidarity to Create an Alternative for the People or ESKAMP, For Us All or PONT , Front for Hope or L'ESPWA, Haitian Christian Democratic Party or PDCH, Haitian Democratic and Reform Movement or MODEREH, Heads Together or Tet-Ansanm , Independent Movement for National Reconciliation or MIRN , Justice for Peace and National Development or JPDN , Fanmi Lavalas or FL , Liberal Party of Haiti or PLH , Merging of Haitian Social Democratic Parties or FUSION or FPSDH , Mobilization for Haiti's Development or MPH ,Mobilization for National Development or MDN , Movement for National Reconstruction or MRN , Movement for the Installation of Democracy in Haiti or MIDH , National Christian Union for the Reconstruction of Haiti or UNCRH , National Front for the Reconstruction of Haiti or FRN , New Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MOCHRENA , Open the Gate Party or PLB , Popular Party for the Renewal of Haiti or PPRH , Struggling People's Organization or OPL , Union of Nationalist and Progressive Haitians or UNITE
Participation in International Organizations: ACCT, FAO, G-77, ACP, Caricom, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, NAM, OAS, OIF, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,WCO, WFTU, WTO, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
Major Agricultural Products: coffee, rice, corn, mangoes, sugarcane, sorghum, wood
Natural Resources & Minerals: bauxite, calcium carbonate, copper, gold, hydropower, marble,
Industry & Transport: sugar refining, cement, flour milling, textiles
Airports: 12
Roadways: 4,160 km
Major Trade Partners: US, Dominican Republic, Canada, Netherlands Antilles, Brazil
Exports: $443.7 million
Imports: $1.721 billion

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Haiti