Bits and Pieces

Haiti declared its freedom in 1804 from the French when the slaves revolted against their slave owners.  The French punished them by demanding restitution until the 1950’s.  No wonder the French are not liked very well.

Based on those who pay taxes, the unemployment rate in Haiti is said to be 80%.  That is not exactly an accurate figure since there are a lot of small entrepreneurs that sell things along every street but don’t pay taxes.

Leogane was the epicenter of the earthquake, population 10,000.  Ninety percent of the homes there were destroyed.

During the quake, parts of the earth looked like ocean waves, as high as three feet, according to the locals.  Our interpreters were on their way to a birthday party at a popular restaurant when the quake hit.  It hit just minutes before they arrived killing over 50 people inside, many of them were their friends.

If someone has a toothache, it is pulled, not repaired, provided he has money to go to a dentist at all.  Lynn is the head nurse on the medical team.  During our second clinic she pulled an adult tooth with her bare hands.  I try to be very nice to Lynn at all times.

Haitian time usually runs anywhere from one to two hours behind American time, and I don’t mean central vs. eastern time zones.

Most Haitians are smart, warm, optimistic, and suspicious.

Thank God I know a little something about business.  I would make a terrible doctor.  I’m not sure they want me back even to dispense vitamins and Tums.  As yet, I have produced no casualties but I do wish the Amoxicillin and children’s chewable vitamins were not the same color.

There was a lot of commotion in the streets last night.  Policemen were very visible.  It was rumored that Aristide was back in the country.  Just rumor, we think.  However, it is no rumor that Clinton will be in town today.  Wouldn’t be surprised if he put his name in the run-off election for president.

There are some 9 million people in Haiti and Port Au Prince has almost 4 million.

Our clinic Monday was held in the Citè Soliel slum.  I am told the UN considers this to be one of the most dangerous communities in the world.  We never had a moment’s trouble.  The people waited patiently to be treated, some as long as 5 hours.  They were courteous and appreciative to receive the treatment.

I am staying in what is supposed to be one of the better and safe neighborhoods of Port Au Prince.  The Internet Café across the street from our house was robbed at gunpoint on Sunday.  All the customers were robbed and no one was hurt.  It is now closed until they can hire an armed guard.  This is one example of the many dichotomies prevalent in Haiti.  Since the Café is my internet source, there will be a slight delay in posting this.

Everything runs on diesel in Haiti.  Gas is $8 (US) per gallon!

A 45# bag of charcoal costs 300 gourdes or about $12 (US).  The charcoal will last an average of 3 weeks.  Ninety percent of the population uses charcoal for cooking.  There are not many trees left in Port Au Prince.

Kenskoff is where the wealthy Haitians live.  That is where Sean Penn stays when he is in town.  One of our interpreters has seen Sean on several occasions.  He said he barely recognized him because he was dressed like a construction worker.  The locals say he has done some good work here.

More from Haiti...

Jerry Shelly

Haiti-One Person's Journey

We at DLI are proud to announce that the President of our company, Jerry Shelly, will be traveling to Haiti in efforts to aid in any way that he can, the people of Haiti who still suffer from the effects of last year's earthquake, a Cholera epidemic and a host of other problems.


Here is his story.

I am told that by going to Haiti, the chances of my changing anyone’s life there is minimal.  In the same breath, those who have been tell me there is a good chance that by just going, it will change mine.  I will find out soon.  A week from today I will be there.

I am going with a small medical team led by my friend Dr. Don Lafont of Jackson, Tennessee.  Dr. Don has been providing free medical assistance in Haiti for over twenty five years.  He was there a week after last year’s earthquake and said that he witnessed carnage that could only be compared to that of war’s aftermath.  He feels that he occasionally makes a small difference when he goes but knows that his medical help provides no long term solutions to the people he treats.  He says what they need are jobs.  Because I have had some success in business, Dr. Don wants me to go to see if I can see any opportunities that might result in creating some jobs there.

I am not sure if I will be able to do any good, but I am inspired by a business associate, Ann Piper of the Joe Piper Company in Birmingham, Alabama, who has made multiple trips to Haiti since the earthquake.  She just returned from a trip where she leased some land that will be used to grow habanero peppers which in turn will be sold to a local processor resulting in four new jobs initially.

While getting my shots for the trip, I was informed by Birmingham’s Kirklin Clinic that Haiti has gone from last to first as the most frequently traveled foreign country by the people of Birmingham.  It is amazing how many feel the need to help a country that in its history has never been able to demonstrate the ability to help itself.

It is reported that $1.4 billion has been donated by Americans alone but only $53 million has actually been spent on Haiti’s recovery and rebuilding efforts.  The reports say the money is being held up due to the bureaucracy, red tape and corruption that are well known to exist in Haiti.  It is not surprising to learn that most of Haiti’s past dictators are back in town with that much money left in the balance.

Just getting donated supplies into the country is arduous.  Dr. Don has been taking medicines in his luggage for years to insure that it gets to the right place.  Having something shipped in and being assured that it gets to the intended destination is almost impossible unless there is someone there to work the system which I’m told usually involves money.  I have a large quantity of medicines and clothing that have been generously donated by my customers, employees and friends but I am being advised to wait until I get there and find someone that I can trust (?) to help get these donations through customs and then on to the final destination.  I am in contact with a gentleman who runs an orphanage for disabled children as one possibility.

More from Haiti.

-Jerry Shelly