Former French colony demands reparations

Haiti’s interim president talked of his country’s dignity before soaking his suit while attempting to chug water from a jug

Haitian interim leader Edgard Leblanc Fils has demanded that France pay “just and appropriate reparations” to compensate for the colonial-era debt forced on his nation. However, his call for “respect” went viral for other reasons, after he soaked himself with a jug of water during the speech.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday, Leblanc, the head of the Haitian Transitional Presidential Council, described his country as “the great victim of a historical injustice that has delayed its development and burdened its people.” 

“This debt has been an unjust penalty that has stifled the potential of the Haitian people for generations,” Leblanc told the UN gathering. Haiti, he said, is “not looking for charity, but justice, respect for its dignity and its right to a dignified and prosperous existence.” 

As Leblanc said the word “dignity,” he raised a large pitcher of water and attempted to drink from it, spilling water all over his suit in the process. Video footage of the incident quickly went viral, with Leblanc apparently the only speaker at the assembly to drink straight from the jug instead of filling a glass first.

Haitian leader Edgard Leblanc Fils at UN blames white people for Haiti's troubles, demands "reparations" and "respect," then fails at drinking water out of a pitcher by spilling it all over himself. pic.twitter.com/JBjIo9skJv

— Chris Menahan