| Traveling the Great Divide |
Despite its geographical location from the USA, one cannot understand Haiti unless you are from the
Caribbean. It has been 34 years since my last visit to Haiti in 1976, but much of the circumstances have
not changed, sadly it will not. The recent earthquake is but a sad footnote. Yet the Haitian people are
strong in their faith. Poverty and a lack of growth for the masses continue to be an albatross around the
necks of the Haitian people. The outpouring of support of those who donate to the tragedy is to be
commended, but these "rush to get your name in the papers donations", are a just band aids on an
open wound..
As one who hails from the Caribbean, I can write and identify with the woes of Haiti, I write not as a part
of "what can you do for me in time of disaster ?" crowd. I do so with heart felt pain, because its history
is a part of my own. While Haiti is one of the few Islands whose history was French, it is like my beloved
country, the difference is that as we pulled ourselves from the mire of slavery, to build and develop a
nation for all its inhabitants not for a few. There was measure of bravery when Haitians killed and (or)
ran off their slave masters , but they took over the land with no knowledge of how to run the place.
Haitian Jean-Jacques Dessalines (1804), declared himself Emperor, and made slaves of most of the
populace. They shot him in 1806, in 200 years of history only twice has a President left office without a
gun or machete at his head.
Haitians are good and decent people, yet their problems only come to light when disaster happens. The
attention of the world is there now, while I am sensitive to their needs all this attention will soon be
forgotten. Like countries in Africa ( remember, Darfur, Sudan and Rwanda, Niger) where there was (is)
much disaster. We think of them, but that I am afraid will be forgotten once the media finds another
story, or the rich receive their tax breaks.
In 1976, while visiting Haiti with the Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC), it was the same. Papa
Doc Duvalier and his thugs, "Ton-ton machetes", ruled with fear. Now with an elected government, that
kind of rule no longer exists, but violence and poverty still rule. The average income is about a $1 a day.
The address of most of its citizens is wherever night fall finds them. As a result of this latest disaster,
the Red Cross estimates 3 million people, a third of the country's population is in need; sadly an
estimated 200,000 have died from the earthquake.
Does anyone really care about Haiti? Back in 1976 when the CCC visited, our mission was to aid
education. Despite its poverty, Haiti has always been strong in making sure its children get a good early
education, but sadly it is not of much use, progress does not derive from it. Haiti has had much political
upheaval, dictators, poverty and natural disasters. Sometimes just when the situation seems to be
getting better, another catastrophe strikes. It was sickening to hear President Rene Preval say to CNN,
"I have no place to sleep." His palatial, white Presidential Palace, the most beautiful building in the
country fell apart. This grandiose (which I toured in 1976) building was supposed to be a symbol of the
promise when it was built; but look a block away, people sleep on the streets not far from it, daily.
Thousands of the poorest Haitians live in wooden or tin shacks with no running water, sewage systems,
or electricity. Many of them flee from the countryside to Port-au-Prince because conditions from
whence they came are worse.. Serious malnutrition, Aids, and other chronic diseases are widespread.
When the Duvalier’s reign of terror was over in 1986, it seemed as though the country might finally
enjoy a period of growth.
While in Jamaica in 1980, I met a young Haitian priest, as he told the CCC his goal was to bring a
measure of hope to his beloved land, but after being elected President in 1994, Father Jean-Bertrand
Aristide became a part Haiti’s nightmare. Now, as so often in Haiti's past, the fresh hopes have been
extinguished. It will take much to rebuild. The international aid can be instrumental, but I fear when the
TV lights turn off they will go away, and Haiti will be forgotten again. Yet, it is my prayer they will not,
unless like me from the Caribbean we are a part of it.
Caribbean. It has been 34 years since my last visit to Haiti in 1976, but much of the circumstances have
not changed, sadly it will not. The recent earthquake is but a sad footnote. Yet the Haitian people are
strong in their faith. Poverty and a lack of growth for the masses continue to be an albatross around the
necks of the Haitian people. The outpouring of support of those who donate to the tragedy is to be
commended, but these "rush to get your name in the papers donations", are a just band aids on an
open wound..
As one who hails from the Caribbean, I can write and identify with the woes of Haiti, I write not as a part
of "what can you do for me in time of disaster ?" crowd. I do so with heart felt pain, because its history
is a part of my own. While Haiti is one of the few Islands whose history was French, it is like my beloved
country, the difference is that as we pulled ourselves from the mire of slavery, to build and develop a
nation for all its inhabitants not for a few. There was measure of bravery when Haitians killed and (or)
ran off their slave masters , but they took over the land with no knowledge of how to run the place.
Haitian Jean-Jacques Dessalines (1804), declared himself Emperor, and made slaves of most of the
populace. They shot him in 1806, in 200 years of history only twice has a President left office without a
gun or machete at his head.
Haitians are good and decent people, yet their problems only come to light when disaster happens. The
attention of the world is there now, while I am sensitive to their needs all this attention will soon be
forgotten. Like countries in Africa ( remember, Darfur, Sudan and Rwanda, Niger) where there was (is)
much disaster. We think of them, but that I am afraid will be forgotten once the media finds another
story, or the rich receive their tax breaks.
In 1976, while visiting Haiti with the Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC), it was the same. Papa
Doc Duvalier and his thugs, "Ton-ton machetes", ruled with fear. Now with an elected government, that
kind of rule no longer exists, but violence and poverty still rule. The average income is about a $1 a day.
The address of most of its citizens is wherever night fall finds them. As a result of this latest disaster,
the Red Cross estimates 3 million people, a third of the country's population is in need; sadly an
estimated 200,000 have died from the earthquake.
Does anyone really care about Haiti? Back in 1976 when the CCC visited, our mission was to aid
education. Despite its poverty, Haiti has always been strong in making sure its children get a good early
education, but sadly it is not of much use, progress does not derive from it. Haiti has had much political
upheaval, dictators, poverty and natural disasters. Sometimes just when the situation seems to be
getting better, another catastrophe strikes. It was sickening to hear President Rene Preval say to CNN,
"I have no place to sleep." His palatial, white Presidential Palace, the most beautiful building in the
country fell apart. This grandiose (which I toured in 1976) building was supposed to be a symbol of the
promise when it was built; but look a block away, people sleep on the streets not far from it, daily.
Thousands of the poorest Haitians live in wooden or tin shacks with no running water, sewage systems,
or electricity. Many of them flee from the countryside to Port-au-Prince because conditions from
whence they came are worse.. Serious malnutrition, Aids, and other chronic diseases are widespread.
When the Duvalier’s reign of terror was over in 1986, it seemed as though the country might finally
enjoy a period of growth.
While in Jamaica in 1980, I met a young Haitian priest, as he told the CCC his goal was to bring a
measure of hope to his beloved land, but after being elected President in 1994, Father Jean-Bertrand
Aristide became a part Haiti’s nightmare. Now, as so often in Haiti's past, the fresh hopes have been
extinguished. It will take much to rebuild. The international aid can be instrumental, but I fear when the
TV lights turn off they will go away, and Haiti will be forgotten again. Yet, it is my prayer they will not,
unless like me from the Caribbean we are a part of it.
| Haiti |