Dominican Republic and Haiti: Country Studies

Haiti: Government and Politics
the next, continues to play a key role in the reporting and dissemination
of news in Haiti. News of incidents occurring in far
reaches of the country is often spread through zen more rapidly
than by electronic or print media, which, given their own
resource limitations, depend to a certain extent on zen networks
as their sources. If not carefully checked for accuracy,
however, reporting based on zen can result in the spread of
incomplete or distorted information.
Creole has become Haiti's principal language of communication
in radio and television, and among officials in public
positions and civil society organizations. Many candidates
elected to office since 1995 speak only Creole. In recent years,
ever since its orthography became standardized, written Creole
has been used much more frequently. It has become the language
of preference in adult literacy classes and has been more
thoroughly incorporated into the formal education system.
The production of materials written in Creole also has
expanded tremendously since the 1980s. French, however,
remains widely represented in the press, commercials, advertisements,
street names, and the cultural scene.
Interest Groups
Since the 1986 demise of the Duvalier dictatorship, a variety
of such interest groups as political parties, political activist
organizations, private-sector and professional associations, and
civil society organizations, including NGOs, regional peasant
movements, and community groups, have become a greater
part of the Haitian political landscape. The groups function
with varying degrees of freedom, visibility, and effectiveness.
Since late 1994, their ability to function freely, in accordance
with the law, has been guaranteed.
Political Parties
Political parties in Haiti have existed in name since the nineteenth
century, but have not exerted independent influence
on the political system. As a rule, they have been dominated by
an elite, self-described political class based in the Republic of
Port-au-Prince. Parties have been most active during presidential
election campaigns, when they have organized under the
banner of specific individuals serving as their campaign vehicles.
Parties have tended to be institutionalized around their
founder/leader, to thrive or perish according to that individ-
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