The Society has asked me, as the only Haitian-born priest with the Maryknoll missionaries, to be the point-man in assisting our relief efforts to Haiti.  This article is the first of what will be a series to update our donors on the crisis in Haiti.  The following contains some background information as well as some personal observations.

The Republic of Haiti was founded in 1804 by former African slaves. In a revolt that united the plantation slaves, the freed slaves, and those born of slave mothers and French masters, such as Alexandre Petion and Jean-Pierre Boyer, the French colonial power was overthrown and Haiti gained its independence.  Haiti was the first black independent country and the second independent country in Western Hemisphere, the first being the United States.  From the time of its independence to this moment, Haiti has enjoyed only short intervals of stability. This chronic instability and unrest led to the 1952 American invasion.  After the Americans left, things went from bad to worse. Political instability plunged the Republic into a state of dire poverty that has lasted to this day. Haiti, once called the Pearl of the Antilles for its beauty, has become, one might say, the scorn of the region. Haiti went from being a leader in the region, fighting alongside many nations in their struggles for freedom, to becoming the poorest country in the region.

The last 40 years, which began with Francois Duvalier’s (Papa Doc) ascendance into power, has been the darkest time in Haiti’s history. Before Papa Doc, the problem was more political. But, under Papa Doc, the country knew a long period of political stability because he silenced all his political opponents. However, he set the stage for a social instability which will be felt for generations.  Papa Doc’s philosophy was “divide to reign.“   With a series of attacks and killings, he destroyed the entire bourgeoisie; forcing many who did not lose their lives into exile and instilling a great fear in those who remained.  Many could not leave or decided to cooperate with the government for their own survival. He used the most vulnerable, the poor and the illiterate, to destroy the educated and to ensure the longevity of his power. With the bourgeoisie silenced, the social and economic crisis worsened. No government, from Papa Doc to that of the former Salesian priest Jean-Bertrand Aristide took it upon themselves to close that divide. With Jean-Bertrand Aristide, whom most believed would be the savior to bring stability and prosperity to the land, the country knew its worst social and economic debacle. The Republic descended into its worst state of lawlessness and corruption since its independence.

After the departure of Aristide, many felt that the dark days were slowly lifting and the country was on the wake of a new day, especially with the presence and the commitment of the international community. Although over 80% of the population was still poor and jobless, there was a feeling that better days were looming.

As the hope of the people strengthened with political stability; and as a better future seemed slowly to appear on the horizon; Mother Nature joined with the dark and destructive forces that for more than two centuries have kept the country from making any visible economic progress.  In 2008, four major hurricanes struck many parts of the country. The death toll was in the thousands and the damage to the economy was astronomical.  But the Haitians are a resilient people. They never give up. Just as they had decided to fight slavery with every bit of their beings, they continue to be resolute in fighting poverty and hopelessness. With tooth and nail, they are determined to rebuild their country.

Over these past few years, I have made several trips to Haiti to visit friends and relatives. I was there as recently as last December for the Christmas Holiday. I was very pleased to see that there was some progress made in many areas; and I was hoping that it would continue. I left there hoping to return again very soon. The recent earthquake gave a deadly blow. Tens of thousands are dead, tens of thousands are still missing; and tens of thousands are badly injured.  For a country that has suffered so much, this monstrous quake shatters the hope of most Haitians and friends of the Haitian people.  The morning after the quake, one of my nieces called me in tears. She was very depressed. She asked me why God has allowed this to happen to a country with so many problems.  She said, “It is so unfair. “

That was also my first reaction when I heard the news; as it was also and the reaction of many with whom I had the opportunity to speak.  It is like beating a dead horse. There was such agony in the aftermath of the quake. While some people are mourning their dead, others are living with the fear that their loved ones might be among the dead. For days, my family here tried to contact my older brother with his wife and his son in Haiti. I could not count how many phone calls I made. I called almost every minute hoping that I might get through. Sometimes I was thinking that maybe they are under the rubble and that is why they could not pick up the phone.  Frequently, I called my niece, my brother who works for the United Nations in Africa, and other relatives and friends in the Dominican Republic to see if they had heard any news.

We usually say “no news is good news.” That was not the case for us. Every minute that passed gave us a feeling that the hope of finding them alive had decreased. My brother’s half brother, with whom I grew up, was killed along with his two children. He had been living was living in the U.S. and decided a decade ago to return to Haiti to take over his father’s business when his father’s health was deteriorating.  I also have 2 cousins whose mother recently died of cancer who perished in Haiti. You will find similar stories all across the world. Ninety percent of the people with whom I have spoken know someone who died in the quake.

It is very hard to get a good night’s sleep these days. You wake up in the middle of the night asking myself whether it is real. It is like living in a dream. The international community has responded and continues to do so with great compassion and with a sense of urgency. However, the relief effort was badly slowed down because the roads are impassable. No one thought that anything like this would happen.   Many, especially those in the medical field, would love to go there to help but find it impossible to do so. We Haitians in the Diaspora have the resources and the expertise that are needed to offer our assistance; but there is a lack of coordination as to how to begin to use these resources.

I would also like to help coordinate this effort. I have been in close contact with many people who are eager to volunteer their time, talents, and resources. Our Maryknoll missionaries stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Haiti. We will work with the Haitian community in the Diaspora and all people of good will to offer a helping hand to our brothers and sisters in Haiti. We will bring the love and compassion of God and the hope of the resurrection in a very concrete way to their lives. Please join us in this endeavor. God bless you all! And thank you for your support.