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

Shelter in Port-au-Prince

My stay in Haiti will be spent at a place called Mathew 25. The best way to describe Matthew 25 is that it is a haven for those who come to Haiti with a desire to help, no matter the background.

Mathew 25 is part of a national organization called the Parish Twining Program of America (P.T.P.A.) which was established by a Catholic priest and his wife in 1978 when the couple got off a cruise ship and were shocked by this country’s poverty. They developed a program that pairs parishes in the US with parishes in Haiti that then work together to address specific needs in agriculture, education, construction and mission work.

The accommodations are pretty basic but made more than comfortable by the warm hospitality of Sisters Mary 1 and 2. The place comes with open air sleeping quarters (with screens), indoor plumbing (with cold running water which feels good in the heat), bottled or filtered water only (had to toss my toothbrush when I forgot and rinsed it in the tap water) and some of the most interesting people from all walks of life. As would be expected, there are plenty of doctors and nurses staying here. There are also electrical engineers, restaurant owners, T.V. producers and college professors and a freelance writer recording her experiences in hopes of educating the world to Haiti’s plight regarding human rights. Most of those who are here come to observe, learn and try to make a difference; one does not have to look very hard for opportunities.

My bedroom overlooks one of the tent cities in Port-au-Prince. It is situated adjacent to the property on what was a soccer field. In comparison to the tents, my quarters are quite palatial. Dr. Don took me on a tour of the tents. As tents go, they are fine. They would be great for an overnight stay or maybe two at some nice shaded campground with a view of a lake, but to live in one for a year or two or three – not so good. Most of the inhabitants stay outside due to the heat on the inside. Cooking is primarily done outside using charcoal from what wood can be scavenged. There is not much vegetation around the city because it is burned to make charcoal – causing erosion and poor soil conditions. During the rainy season the campgrounds become a quagmire – perfect cholera conditions.

It is predicted that many people will be living in these not-so-temporary homes for some time to come – not unlike those that lived in FEMA trailers after Katrina. Which begs the question – is it better to be in a tent or a trailer with formaldehyde fumes? There are now only 70 tents housing some 500 people at this site, down from 170 tents that housed upwards of 500 after the earthquake.

-Jerry Shelly February 2011