Alexandre Lerouge - Cap-Haitian
ADVERTISEMENT
It was reported that prior to the election, incendiary devices and Molotov cocktails were readied in large scale in Cap-Haitian before the election kicked off. This was a fallback measure for the Cap-Haitian people in case the government decided to interfere with the election. The Duvalier regime used to hold an election every 6 years which rubber-stamped the instructions of the President for Life, Jean-Claude Duvalier. However, nothing really changed and the liberalization by the Baby Doc was actually a ploy to increase the inflow of foreign aid that never led to any kind of substantial changes.
Lerouge's win gave a whole new dimension to the electoral process. Sources said that Lerouge's anti-government position did not only arouse the people of Haiti but also deepened the crack between Jean-Claude Duvalier and his very powerful mother who had been opposing government reforms. Alexandre's growing popularity was a concern for the government that made a few half-hearted attempts stop Alexandre Lerouge from winning. The measures used were summoning Lerouge for a private meeting with Duvalier and deployment of 'Leopards' in the Cap-Haitian. During the private meeting, according to the sources, feeble attempts were made to bribe Lerouge. Since 1957, Alexandre Lerouge was arrested 10 times and he also escaped 4 Ton Ton Macoutes assassination attempts which earned him the image of a courageous activist that paved the path for his victory.
Read more: jean claude duvalier, Cap-Haitian, People, Francois Duvalier, Deputy, Alexandre Lerouge, People
« Livres en Folie, the biggest book fair in Haiti | Main | Adrien Sansaricq, an example of the role of Haitians in Cuba »
Leave a Reply
Name (required) E-mail (required, will not be published)» »
Our objective is to share with you news and information about Haiti and the people of Haiti. Traditions, habits and the way we were or grew are alive in this site. We highly recommend that you Subscribe to our Newsletter and also share with us some of the things that are memorable and made us unique people.