LI's Haitians mixed on return of 'Baby Doc'

Long Island's Haitian community Monday had mixed reactions to the news that exiled former dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier had returned to his native country after 25 years in exile.

But there was one emotion all of those interviewed Monday did share: surprise.

"It's a 'wow,' " said Maryse Emmanuel-Garcy, co-founder of the Haitian American Family of Long Island, a Freeport-based nonprofit organization. "He says he's here to help the country. Personally, I say, 'Let's see.' "

Duvalier, 59, made his unexpected return to Haiti Sunday from France. So far, he has not spoken to the media about why he came back.

After the death of his father, François "Papa Doc" Duvalier, in 1971, "Baby Doc," as he was nicknamed, ruled Haiti until 1986. Along the way, he earned an international reputation as a ruthless leader who tortured and killed political enemies and instilled fear among his followers.

Fed up with the poverty and starvation that enveloped Haiti at a time when Duvalier lived an extravagant lifestyle, Haitians finally overthrew Duvalier in 1986.

Despite once opposing him, some Haitians living on Long Island said Monday that Duvalier may now be able to offer some help to a country that desperately needs it. An earthquake one year ago killed hundreds of thousands of Haitians, and left another million homeless. A subsequent cholera outbreak has claimed another 3,500 lives.

"It's a good thing for the country," said Mathelier Guerrena, 50, of Freeport, as he waited to get his hair cut at the Haitian-owned Dignite Barber Shop in Uniondale. "I think we need more people to go back to Haiti to rebuild the country."

Eating lunch at the Creole Buffet in Uniondale, Yneck Stimphil, 48, said that, in the role of a political consultant, Duvalier could be valuable in spurring the reconstruction of a ravaged nation.

"You could be a dictator and still do good for your country," said Stimphil, a Walmart store department manager. "He wasn't that bad. . . . When he was in there, I think the people paid more respect to society."

Others were not nearly as receptive to Duvalier's return, pointing to his track record in Haiti.

"He didn't do anything positive and he did a lot of negative," said retired social worker Pierre Edme, 69, of Uniondale, who moved to the United States from Haiti 40 years ago. "If you did no help in that particular time, how much do you think people will trust you to help now?"