Dominican Republic and Haiti: Country Studies

otherwise improved, and 2,150 kilometers are unimproved and
almost impassable during rainy season. Two paved highways
link northern and southern regions.
Ports: Port-au-Prince is major port, with container facilities and
berths for large liners. Remaining thirteen ports, largely
provincial and small, centers of imported contraband in 1990s.
Airports: Haiti's main international airport is located ten
kilometers north of Port-au-Prince. Some ten other airfields
are operational but are only grass strips.
Railroads: One rail line, used for transporting sugarcane. No
passenger rail service.
Telecommunications: With a ratio of six telephones per 1 ,000
inhabitants in 1998, Haiti ranks below some poorer African
nations (eight telephones per 1,000 people). The 39,000
telephone lines of the 1980s increased to 64,000 in late 1990s,
with 80 percent concentrated in capital area, where only 25
percent of population live. Subscribers with international
service can dial directly to United States and Europe via
satellite station at Sabourin. Telephone service in rural areas so
poor that many resort to two-way radios.
Government and Politics
Government: Internationally monitored national election in
November 1990 ended four years of military-dominated rule
that followed end of Duvalier family dictatorship. Jean-
Bertrand Aristide, elected president in a landslide, inaugurated
to five-year term February 7, 1991. 1990 election overturned in
September 1991 by military coup. De facto military
government of General Raoul Cedras failed to achieve
international recognition; ousted by UN-sanctioned
multinational force in September 1994 with Aristide restored
to power after three years in exile. Internationally monitored
parliamentary and municipal elections of 1995 brought to
office candidates affiliated with Aristide's Lavalas political
movement. Majority had run under Lavalas Political
Organization (Organisation Politique Lavalas—OPL) banner.
Rene Garcia Preval, OPL's candidate, won December 1995
presidential election, succeeding Aristide February 7, 1996.
Prime Minister Rosny Smarth formed OPL-dominated cabinet.
In January 1997, Aristide formed new political party, Lavalas
Family (La Famille Lavalas—FL) ,
creating schism within ruling
255