President Pierre Théomas Boisrond Canal

Few men have played such an important role in Haitian Politics as Pierre Théomas Boisrond Canal. Provisional President at the fall of Michel Domingue, he was elected to a constitutional mandate on July 17, 1876. His government could be considered as a liberal one.

During his time in exile in Kingston, he led the fraction of the Parti Libéral who considered Boyer Bazelais’s views too extreme. In parliament, Bazelais’s supporters placed his government under very strict control. President Boisrond Canal reacted with a lack of action that emboldened his enemies. When blamed for shots fired in the streets or stores and even private houses being burglarized without any reaction from the police, he would softly reply “lese grennen” or don’t bother.

By the decree of July 11, 1877, the National Assembly acting on the finding one of its commissions greatly reduced the amounts of the loans contracted by the Domingue administration, with a 6% interest rate being approved.

Two armed movements attempted to overthrow his government; both failed.

During his term in office, the two powerful branches of the Parti Libéral, the pro-Bazelais and pro-Boisrond Canal, constantly battled and caused much political trouble. In the meantime the Parti National was being reorganized. An alliance was then achieved between Nationaux and Libéraux canalistes (pro-Canal), a coalition that won the 1879 elections. The Libéraux bazelaizistes (pro-Bazelais) decided to take up arms; for several days they battled the government troops before being defeated.

Despite this victory, President Boisrond Canal lost faith in both parties and abandoned power, without a cent, one year before the end of his term. He went into exile in St. Thomas on July 17, 1879.

Article source:Copyright © 2007 www.haitianmedia.com

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