Why Dimitri Vorbe not showing up to court does not matter

I firmly believe in the rule of law as the bedrock on which Haitian society can be rebuilt. And as Tiffany Madison aptly put it “When the Rule of Law disappears, we are ruled by the whims of men.”

This core belief has gotten me into trouble and have put me in the difficult position of defending people who do not need or even deserve my defense.

The rule of law 

What is at stake is the basic ideal of the rule of law. What is lost in this debate is the fundamental principle that is the bedrock for everything we hope to see changed in Haiti. Whether it is protecting the environment, making education and healthcare available to all, making public investments in infrastructure, attracting private investments that create jobs and wealth, and finally tackling the modernization of the public administration. All of these changes will require a system of justice that functions and is fair. 

Essentially every aspect of public life requires a system of justice that works. It is easy to celebrate the arrest of Mr. Vorbes, whether it was by Interpol in the US or by the police in Haiti. However, accepting that a person, however bad they were, can be punished without due process is accepting that we will maintain the system of retribution . Worst, we would be ensuring that Haiti remains a country that is condemned to function with corruption. 

Whether one believes that Mr. Vorbes is innocent or guilty of what he is being accused of is wholly irrelevant. One must critically question how what is being done impact not just one person but society at large. 

We can start by asking ourselves the following questions:

• Has the government shown that Sogener’s invoices were inaccurate and or fraudulent?
• If so, was Sogener in cahoot with EDH and the justice of peace? And, if yes, have those public servants been arrested and charged?
• What is the impact of the government acting outside to the law to punish its opponents?
• What are the cascading effects to the judicial system?
• How will the regular citizens view themselves in this system and what will be the effects on the day-to-day relations?

Conclusion

The Vorbe’s case is a clear illustration of a government that is abusing its power. That it is doing so against someone who many decry as having abused the system is exactly the reason why we must not fall into the trap because it is bigger than the Vorbes. 

To be clear, if it is proven in the courts that the Vorbes family defrauded the state then they should suffer the full consequences. But regardless of our personal feelings, the rule of law must prevail for Mr. Vorbe if it is to prevail for any of us. 

As Haitian-Americans who care about our country of origin, it is imperative that we approach these issues from a system of value and convictions. We must situate issues like what is happening between the Haitian government and the Vorbes in a broader frame. 

At times, we will have to face difficult moral dilemmas but for democracy to flourish in Haiti, we need to fight and demand a fair and equitable justice system. Haiti deserves such a system so it can regain its status as a beacon for liberty. More importantly, our sisters and brothers in Haiti require it if they are to have a shot at living a life of dignity.