Notes From the Last Testament: The Struggle for Haiti [Paperback]

Michael Deibert (Author), Raoul Peck (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 4, 2005

Notes from the Last Testament, by veteran reporter Michael Deibert, is a riveting narrative account of the events leading up to and including the overthrow of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. A fearless correspondent and a meticulous researcher, Deibert traces the rupturing of the social-democratic coalition that originally brought Aristide to power and that had been the fruit of years of opposition to the dictatorships and military juntas. From chaotic scenes of frenzied mayhem on the streets of the bidonvilles of Port-au-Prince with their armed gangs and burning intersections to heated debates in the halls of power, these dramatic events throw into stark relief the obstacles facing the world's nascent democracies, the trend of first world military intervention in third world affairs, and the dual legacies of slavery and colonialism.
In a remarkable and deeply humane synthesis of on-the-ground perspectives and exhaustive research, Deibert sets vivid personal testimonies alongside an analysis of the country's rich history that reaches back to Haiti's first days as a colony, to the time of the rebellion led by the former slave Toussaint Louverture, and extends to the present, ultimately exploring how Aristide, once a beacon of populism and democratic aspirations, came to embody brutality and misrule in the tradition of his predecessors. Along the way, Deibert introduces us to the real heroes of the Hatian people's struggle for a just and independent society free from violence and corruption.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A compelling mix of reportage, memoir, social criticism...Deibert has a sharp eye for the complicating ironies of history. -- The San Antonio Express-News, February 19, 2006

A compelling mix of reportage, memoir, social criticism...Deibert masterfully recounts...wild swings in the republic's political compass. -- The San Antonio Express-News, February 19, 2006

A powerfully documented exposé. -- The Miami Herald, November 25, 2005

Product Details

• Paperback: 478 pages
• Publisher: Seven Stories Press (October 4, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1583226974
• ISBN-13: 978-1583226971
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,330,998 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael Deibert is the author of Notes from the Last Testament: The Struggle for Haiti (Seven Stories Press, 2005), praised by the Miami Herald as "a powerfully documented exposé" and by the San Antonio Express-News as "a compelling mix of reportage, memoir and social criticism," and of the forthcoming Democratic Republic of Congo: Between Hope and Despair (Zed Books, 2012).

Michael's writing has appeared in the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the Guardian, the Miami Herald, Le Monde diplomatique, Folha de Sao Paulo and the World Policy Journal, among other publications. He has been a featured commentator on international affairs for the BBC, Channel 4, Al Jazeera, National Public Radio, WNYC New York Public Radio and KPFK Radio Pacifica Radio.

In his role as a Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Peace and Reconciliation Studies at Coventry University, which promotes processes of reconciliation by non-violent means at all levels throughout the world, Michael aids the Centre in its mission to increase and sustain dialogue on international peacebuliding and development issues, with a particular focus on Africa and Latin America.

Michael's blog can be read at http://www.michaeldeibert.blogspot.com/ and he can be followed on Twitter at twitter.com/michaelcdeibert.


Photo (C) Hilary Wallis

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best accounts on the last 20 years of Haitian politics, January 24, 2011

By 

kaliko (bethesda, md United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Notes From the Last Testament: The Struggle for Haiti (Paperback)

Written with clarity and style, this book is highly recommended for everyone interested in Haitian politics the last 20 years.
This is perhaps the most accurate account, so far, of the advent of the Lavalas movement to Power and how Aristide, elected democratically on a platform of change, managed to betray the trust and hopes of a large majority of the population.
I was present in Haiti for many of the events depicted in Deibert's powerful, vivid and compelling book and all I can say is that he nailed them.
I totally agree with Haitian filmmaker Raoul Peck, who writes in the introduction that the book manages "to show in the most intimate details how a democratic movement went wrong and how a heritage of valuable victories and painful sacrifice was slandered by a charismatic leader and his cronies." A must read for anyone wanting to learn more about Haiti's past, present and future!.

14 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Are Deibert and Tom Saber the same person?, February 13, 2006

By 

J.Hall (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Notes From the Last Testament: The Struggle for Haiti (Paperback)

I ask this question because "Tom Saber" seems to be using the same elitist rational that Deibert uses. I read Deibert's book over Dec-Jan. I checked it out at a local library so I would not have to give any money to this publisher.

First of all, just want to point out a few errors of the below reviewer, this so called "Tom Saber". The Batay Ouvriye (which he claims are well meaning "Haitian labor activists") has in fact been targeted by two AFL-CIO grants from the NED and the U.S. State Department which total nearly half a million dollars. The Batay Ouvriye was one of the main "left" organizations calling for the elected government to "leave the country". Now they are claiming "we'd accept a million dollars". Much like Deibert's warped view, Saber's love for the U.S./ CIDA funded "left" organizations in Haiti show his colonialist mentality. The people who overwhelming elected the ARistide government and now Preval are the one's who don't speak english and french. They are the one's that don't have wealthy NGO's to back them up.


I don't understand how anyone can say this book is "balanced" or "even-handed".
Fifty-five footnotes, for a book of 454 pages!!!! I don't need a college degree to realize that has little basis in reality. If he could back up his claims and rumors with facts he would have footnotes to documented cases and examples. Taking the word of a "gang leader" is not a fact. Sorry, Deibert.

I also know that the human rights lawyer tom griffin confronted Deibert because of the negative things this book says about him in the prologue.
In the same paragraph that Deibert called Tom Griffin an Aristide employee or supporter, and his report "bogus" Deibert claims that Aristide "saved his own skin and . . . left his supporters in the slums to their fates for the second time . . . ." No matter what anyone thinks of Aristide., fleeing to save his own skin twice is a funny way of looking at the facts. Deibert admitted he never contacted Griffin or even tried to before making his claims against him.

Deibert totally ignored his interviewees admissions that they were on USAID/IFES payroll. Deibert takes rumors from group 184 supporters and US funded operatives and spins them as facts.


Hey, if this is the Haiti you want to think exists.. Then go ahead.. but for you all who believe this book , you are living in la-la-land of charles baker's fantasy.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Attempt at a Balanced Viewpoint...worth the read!, October 12, 2009

By 

Joy (WI, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Notes From the Last Testament: The Struggle for Haiti (Paperback)

Looking at the reviews for this book it is clear readers either love it or hate it. I for one do not claim to have such specific insights and information as some reviewers seem to have but I will throw in my two cents nonetheless!

I enjoyed reading this book because it was the first time I was able to read really anything on Haiti even marginally analytical of Aristide's time in office. I came at my reading on the country of Haiti as one trying to discern the facts as best I could and become acquainted with the background of Haiti's struggles in the 1990's. Everywhere I turned to look every author was repeating the same Aristide worship while decrying various enemies, the West etc. etc. I can clearly see that Aristide was immensely popular with a very large segment of the population but political popularity in Haiti (and I argue probably in the world in general) is more often than not based not on a lot of solid reasoning but on sound bites played over the radio, the politician's own rhetoric, his/her promises and personality. Also no matter how popular or how wonderful a leader Aristide may have or may not have been he is not a saint for the simple reason that no man is - certainly no politician! To absolve Aristide of ANY and ALL wrongdoing, any and all responsibility for the nation of Haiti's condition under his rule and directly following his rule is ludicris.

I have been living in Haiti for a little over a year now and when you talk to people about Haiti and about Arisitide it is more often than not with an air of disappointment as they express their feelings about what could have been what might have been. They along with so many others were really hopeful as Aristide came to power but were disappointed. I have heard more than once the saying "All smooth roads lead to Aristide's house." Aristide had a grand opportunity laid before him - he had the people of Haiti on his side. He had I firmly believe a vision for his nation and a desire to see the people lifted out of poverty. He unfortunately like so many others wasted that opportunity in favor of furthering his own interests. There are many others who of course can have a share of the blame laid at their feet. You can blame the Americans, the French, the Canadians, the upper class, the rebellious military-like factions in Haiti and maybe even rightfully so but to do so and give the actual leader of that nation a free pass is simply not good enough for me. History always has two sides. There is enough evidence of Aristides misdeeds and liberalities to convict him on many counts. This book lays out many of those charges against Aristide himself and many in his government.

Many critics of this book pick out this little detail or that little detail and want to argue it (which is their right) but how about the big picture? Is Aristide totally innocent? Is there any truth to some of these claims? I believe the answers are obvious. I do not think it is a difficult thing to come to a place of balance and honesty when describing the Aristide years in Haiti and I believe this book attempts to do just that.