Haiti Essay

HaitiEssays

Haiti

HaitihaslongbeenknownforitsmajorexportofHaitianmigrantsinsearchofabetterwayoflife Itisanexodusthatgoesbackseveraldecades,howeverwithrecenttimesthenumbershave increaseddramatically.Infact,thatnumbersofHaitiansfleeingHaitiintheearly1990'sfarexceeds thenumbersrecordedinearlieryears.Between1972–1979,some8,000–10,000Haitiansarrivedin theUnitedStates.Comparethisnumberwiththe14,443HaitiansinterdictedbetweenSeptember30, 1991–January1,1992Byearly1994,thisnumbertotaledover41,000(ReportontheSituationof HumanRightsinHaiti,1994).Economicdeprivationhasalwaysbeenthepredominantinfluencefor themigratingofHaitians,yetinthe...showmorecontent...

Afterthecoupd'etat,thousandsuponthousandsofHaitianssetforthonalongjourneywithhopes ofseekingrefugeintheUnitedStates,"thelandofopportunity",viaFlorida.Fromthevery beginningsofthecrisisinHaiti,wecanseethevariouspoliciesadaptedbythethreedifferent presidentswhoheldofficeintheU.S.ThroughtheReagan,Bush,andfinallyClinton administrations,thereisanevolutionofpolicyfromthatofsilence,toagradualincreaseofconcern, andultimatelyanobjectiveofrestoringdemocracyinHaitiHowever,theonethingthatremained constantthroughouteachadministrationwastheU.S.policyandpracticeofinterdictionand repatriationofHaitianrefugees.Thispolicywasindeedsuccessfulincurtailingtheinfluxof HaitiansintotheU.S.(ReportontheSituationofHumanRightsinHaiti,1994).Thetheoryof normativeliberalismcanbeseenasanexplanationfortheU.S.policyindealingwiththeHaitian refugeesThetheoryassumesthatdemocraticsocietieshavecertaindemocraticnormstranslateinto internationalnon–violence.However,anystatethatviolatesthesenormswillbesubjectto punishment.Theessentialnormthatidentifiesliberalismistherighttoindividualfreedoms,which aboveallistheideaofmoralfreedomLiberalismcallsforfreedomfromsubjectiveauthorityor "negativefreedoms",andtherighttodemocraticparticipationor

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Overaperiodofdecadesandseveralbilliondollarsofaid,Haitiremainedinadirestate,withavery bleakoutlookasafragilestate.Reformconditionsthataccompaniedtheaidwereoftshort–sighted anddidnotworktoimprovingthesituation–sometimesevendoingharm,forexample,failedtrade liberalization,whichallbutdestroyedlocalricefarming(Phillips,E.,Watson,D.D.,II,2011). Focusingontheassemblysectorandexportmarketshadtheundesirableeffectofbringingmany fromtheruralareasintothecity,theeffectsofwhichwereseriousovercrowdingandresultant slums,andthecallforreductionofstateemploymentratherthanlookingtoexpanditsreachand basicservicesoutwardstobetterincluderuralareas(Mobekk,E,Spyrou,SI,2002)showmore content...

PrivatizationreformwasdemonstratedagainstbyHaitiangroups,andthispoliticalsensitivity amongthepeopletoitwentignoredbytheIMF,evenresultinginaidbeingwithheldwhen governmenttookonboardtheconcernsofthepeople.Manyoftheseintroducedproblemscould havebeenavoidedifabetterunderstandingoftheproblemwasachievedbeforepolicymade;and thenhavethoseamenabletochangeaccordingtothefeedbackoftheir ...Getmorecontent...

EssayOnHaitianCulture

TheHaitianCultureisinthemixwithAfricanandEuropeanculturejustbecauseoftheFrench. Haitianmusic,art,languageandreligionarethebigtopicsintheirpopulation.AsIreadanddid researchonHaitian'scultureInoticedthattheyareintoalotofmusicandcelebrationsalongwitha lotofart.KidsinHaitidoalotofpaintingandenjoyalotofmusicbutwhatdotheymakeartwith? Whatdotheymakemusicwith?Whatmakesthesecelebrationssobig?Donationsfromalloverthe worldhavemadethesekidshavesomuchmoreartworkandmusiccomparedtowhattheyhavehad before,theywouldusetheyfingersorsticktomaketheirpaintbrushes,theywouldusebowls,pots, andpanstomakemusicoranythingthatmadeabeat

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Travelaroundtheworld?Wow!Therearesomanyplacestochoosefrom,allthatareinneedof

Christianloveandservice.Oneplacethatreallystandsouttome,however,isHaiti.Iwouldloveto visitoursisterschoolandvisitourextendedsistersofMercy.WithHaiti'shighpovertyratesand largenumberoforphanedchildren,IfeelthatIwoulddothemostgoodinthissmall,tropical countryInresearching,Ifoundthatthereisastrongneedforfoodassistanceaswellascleanwater, healthcare,educationandotherimportantprojects.WhileImaynotbeablefixallofHaiti's problemsinonevisit,Iplantoatleasttrytomakeadifferencetoafewpeople.Joiningmewillbe mymomandmybigsisterIhaveknownmyMercybig

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TheJanuary12,2010HaitiEarthquakecausedanenormousdestructionintheCaribbeannation. Hospitalsandgovernmentbuildingscollapsedalongwithanunbelievableamountofhomes.Tensof thousandsofpeoplewerekilled,andmanymorewerewounded.Thedisasteraddedmoremiseryto peoplealreadystrugglingtogetbywitheverydaylife.Haitiisoneofthepoorestnationsinthe worldTheJanuary12quakedemolishedalmosteverymajorbuildinginPort–au–Prince,Haiti's capital.About5,000schoolsinthecityweredestroyedordamaged.ThroughoutHaiti,morethan 220,000peoplewerekilled,andmorethan1millionwerelefthomeless.Afewdaysafterthequake, thenumberofsurvivorsstoodat121ashopesoffindingmorebecameshowmorecontent

ThemostrecentcyclonestohittheislandbeforetheearthquakewereTropicalStormFayand HurricanesGustav,HannaandIke,allinthesummerof2008,causingnearly800deaths.[27]

Geology USGSintensitymap

MapshowingregionaltectonicsettingoftheEnriquillo–PlantainGardenfaultzone

Tinydotsofwhiteagainsttheplant–coveredlandscape(redinthisimage)arepossiblelandslides,a commonoccurrenceinmountainousterrainafterlargeearthquakes.TheEnriquillo–PlantainGarden faultzonerunsalongthetwolinearvalleysatthetopoftheimageThemagnitude7.0Mw earthquakeoccurredinland, ...Getmorecontent...

HAITI:IT'SPASTANDPRESENTHaitiisthesecondlargestCaribbeanIsland.Itoccupiesathird ofthewesternpartoftheislanditshareswiththeDominicanRepublic.Haitiisalsomadeupof severalislandsthatsurroundthemainterritory.ThecapitalisPort–au–Prince.Itrainsbetween NovemberandMarchintheNorthoftheislandandbetweenMayandOctoberintheSouth."Once coveredbyforest,thecountryhasbeenheavilyloggedforwoodandfuelandtoclearlandfor farming,andisnowlargelydeforested."Haitiisdividedinto"nineadministrativedepartments." Besidesthecapital,otherimportantcitiesareCap–HaitienandGonaives."Haitiisthemostdensely populatedcountryinLatinAmericaandhasthelowestpershowmorecontent

Beforethewar,thewholeislandofHispaniolahadbelongedtoHaitifor22years.TheDominican WarofIndependenceof1844wasledbytwentyyearoldJuanPabloDuarte.Duartealongwith MatiasRamonMellaandFranciscodelRosarioSanchezformedagrouptheycalledLaTrinitariaor theTrinity.Theyrecruitedmanypeopleandkepttheiractionsverysecrettoavoiddetectionbyany HaitianauthoritiesThegroupwaseventuallydiscoveredanditwasforcedtochangeitsnametoLa FilantropicaorThePhilanthropic.ThegroupcontinuedtomaketroublefortheHaitians.In1843the grouphadabreakasitworkedwitha"liberalHaitianparty"theywereabletooverthrowthe president.TheirsuccesscontinuedandonFebruary27,1844,DominicanrebelsseizedtheFortaleza OzamainSantoDomingo.WithindaysallHaitianofficialsleftSantoDomingo.Thewarcontinued andtheDominicanRepubliccontinuedtodefendagainstHaitianattacksTheRepublicwentonto winmorewarsagainstHaiti'sattacks."InNovember6,1844aConstituentassemblydrafteda constitution,basedontheHaitianandUnitedStatesmodels,whichestablishedseparationofpowers andlegislativechecksontheexecutive"ThewarcontinuedthroughoutSeptemberandNovember of1845.Thewarforindependencewasforeseeableastensionsbuiltoverthetwentytwoyearsin whichHaitihadcontroloftheisland.Therelationshipbetween

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HaitiisabeautifulCaribbeancountrythathashadmorethanitsfairshareofhardship.Acultureof strengthandperseveranceisevidentfromthemomentonearrivesanditonlyfeelsstrongerthe furtheronetravelsfromPortauPrince.ThepeopleareofAfricandescent,withastrongFrench influencecreatingauniquelymixedculturethatisrareinthewesternhemisphere.Thebusiness climateissuchthatthereareveryfewforeignbusinessesorjointventuresinHaitiandalthough therearemanyhistoricreasonsforthat,therenowsitsimmenseopportunity.First–moveradvantage isonlyanadvantageifthefirst–moverissuccessful.Afirmintheinitialstagesofmarketresearch intoHaitiwillbedrawntothedreamofshowmorecontent

Safetyandsecurityisabigriskinmostunderdevelopednations,andHaitiisriskierthanmost. Finally,theprovisionofbroadbasedorientationtothisnewmarketasitappliesdirectlytobusiness operationsinthisnewmarket.

History

UnderstandingHaiti'spastwillgrantanidealwindowintotheculturalsoulofthisnationandmay aidinadeeperrealizationofwhymanythingsappearastheydointhiscountry.Cultural intelligenceisdefinedas"anindividual'scapabilitytofunctionandmanageeffectivelyinculturally diversesetting"(Ahn&Ettner,2013).Thisisahighlysoughtafterskillintheinterconnectedworld ofglobalizationwherethisindividualappearstoholda"seeminglynaturalabilitytointerpret someone'sunfamiliarandambiguousgesturesinjustthewaythatperson'scompatriotsand colleagueswould"(Ahn&Ettner,2013).Havinganindividualwiththeseskillsinafirmwould reducethelikelihoodofcommunicatingaculturalfauxpasthatwouldinadvertentlyhinderbusiness relations.Gainingknowledgewillgreatlycontributetothecompetitiveadvantageofafirm.To understandHaiti,onemuststartin1492,whentheIslandofHispaniolawasfirstdiscoveredby ChristopherColumbus(Central,n.d.).Intheinitial25yearsofSpanishcontroloftheislandthe Spanishsettlerskilledoffalmostalloftheindigenouspeoplewhohadoriginallyoccupiedtheisland (Central,nd)"In1697,Spaincededto

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ThecountrythatIchosetoresearchformypaperisHaiti.HaitiislocatedinCubaandPuertoRico. HaitisharestheIslandofHispaniolawiththeDominicanRepublic.ThecapitalofHaitiisPort–au–Prince,andthepopulationis9,996,731.HaitihastwoofficiallanguagesFrenchandHaitianCreole. About2.1millionpeopleofthepopulationliveinPort–Au–Prince,whichmakesthecapitalan extremelycongestedcityHaitiissharedbytheCaribbeanislandofHispaniolawiththeDominican Republic.ThetotalareaofHaitiis27,700squarekilometers.About95percentoftheHaitian populationconsistofAfricandescent.ThetwoofficiallanguagesareFrenchandCreole.Haitihas seenalargeamountofemigrationshowmorecontent

FarmersinHaitigrowvariousproducesuchas;rice,beans,corn,sorghum,bananas,andcoffee.In 1994,PresidentJean–BertrandAristide'sgovernmentadoptedapolicythateliminatedsubsidiesin fertilizersandotherinputsthatbroughtdowntheprotectedtariffsongraindowntobetweenzero andfivepercent.Thezerotariffpolicybroughtdevastatingeffects.Thiscausestheirproductstobe undersoldandtoomuchforHaitianstopurchaseOnJanuary2010adevastatingthinghappened thatlastedapproximately90secondsbutforeverchangedHaiti.January12adevastatingearthquake strucktheircountryleavingbehindawrathofdestruction.Theearthquakemeasuredoutat7.0on therectorscale.Sadly,up200,000peoplewerelosttothedeadlyearthquake.Over1.5million peoplewerelefthomelessandafter5yearsover80,000Haitiansarestilllivinginmakeshiftshelters andtentsinPort–au ...Getmorecontent...

"Haitiisacountryofyouth,whichmeansit'sacountrythathasafuture,wemuststopsaying HaitiansareresilientandbegintosayHaitiansarecapable"quotedbyMichelleJean.Growingup withaHaitianbackgroundwherepeoplejustdidn'tgetalongwithusortheyjustdidn'tacceptusfor whowenaturallytrulyare.Rumorsspreadacrossthenationthatwedoacertainthingoreatcertain animalsYoungeryearsIwasjustbulliedforjustbeingHaitianItwasridiculousbecausenobody tookthetimeouttoknowwhoIwas,neverseenhowstrongIam,nobodytookthetimeoutandstep outtosay"Letmegettoknowherregardlessofherbackground".SoIhadtorepresentmy community,myfamily,andmybloodasaHaitianthatIamcapableofstandingstrongtoshowthat Iinheritedgoodjeansfromstrongpeople."Enseigner,écouter,fairecequ'ilfautfairepourêtre grand.Nelaissezpasvotregardeverslebaspourshowmorecontent

Justbeingjudgedforsomethingwedidn'tstartandwishwecouldfinish.AlltheaccomplishgoalsI meantwasformeandtoproveHaitianscanignorethebullyingreceivefromaculturethatdidn't likeusfromwherewecamefromwhichwasunfairButIwillcontinuetostriveforbetter regardlessofmytestscores,negativeopinionsthatwouldn'tprovidethefutureIwantinlife.To showhowIamsharped–witted,outgoing,learnedleadershipskillsandmorewhereIcanstand proudandsayIdidthisformyfamily,community,andculturethatcouldn'tdoitfortheirself.My expectationsarealwaysgoingtobeexceedinglyhigh,achievingeveryandanygoalthatIknewthat wouldbeachallengebutIhadtoreachmyhighestpotentialForthepastcoupleofyears,theone thingIadmireishowoutgoingIam.I'vecomealongwayfrombeingashylittlegirltotheyoung womanIamtoday.IwouldneverforgetwhereIcamefrom.Nobodycan'tchangemy

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HaitiisacountryontheislandHispaniolawhichisintheCaribbeanSea.Haitimakesupabout1/3 oftheislandandtheothertwothirdsistheDominicanRepublic.Haitiisprimarilypopulatedby African–CaribbeanpeoplewithahistoryofFrenchcolonialism.HaitiisaboutthesizeofMaryland, justover10,000squaremiles.Thecurrentpopulationisroughly9million.Haitiwasthefirstblack nationtowinitsindependencein1804Haiti'shistoryhasauniquelytragichistorywithnatural disasters,poverty,racialdiscord,andpoliticalinstabilityhavedestroyedthecountrythroughoutits history.BeforethearrivaloftheEuropeans,ArawakandCaribindianslivedontheisland.In1697 SpaincededthewesternthirdoftheislandtoFranceshowmorecontent evenafterimprovementinenrollmentandthecommitmentofthegovernmenttobuilduppublic education.Theyhavechallengesinfundingandfindingteachersthataretrained.Theseproblems putagenerationofyouthatriskofnotgettingtheknowledgeandbasicskillsnecessarytosucceed inthelaborforce.Tofixtheeducationissuesfacingthecountry,thegovernmenthasmadedree educationapriorityandduringthefallof2011theybegantotherolloutofanplantoenroll15 millionstudentinitseducationsystemby2016.Morethan80%oftheschoolsareprivatewhich makesitveryhardforparentstosendtheirchildrentoschool.About1.5millionchildrenwhichis abouthalfthechildreninhaitidon'tgotoschool.About50%oftheruralkidsages6–11willnever gotoschoolandonly35%makeitto6thgradeandtherestdropoutbecauseoffinancialproblems.

Lessthan1%highschoolgraduatesattendpost–secondaryeducationMorethan80%ofthe populationisunemployed.Bothpublicandprivatesufferdotoalakeinmaterials,expertise, management,andorganizationthathasbeendotonaturaldisasters,diseasesandregionalconflicts, andlackoffundsBymakingthemuseofFrenchratherthanHaitianCreoleintheclassroom,the currentHaitianeducationdiscriminatesagainststudentsoflowerclassstatus,themajorityofwhom arenotgoodatspeakingFrench,thelegaland

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Haitiwasoncethefirstblackindependentrepublicintheworldandtherichestislandinthe Caribbean.TodayHaitiisthepoorestcountryintheWesternHemisphereandoneofthepoorest countriesintheworld.WhatcouldhavehappenedtoHaitiinalmosttwohundredyearsofhistory? Thecountryexperiencedrepeatedcivilwarandforeignintervention.Haitiisnotisolatedfromthe internationalworldThus,itwasnotoutofconcernforordinaryHaitiansthattheUnitedStates intervenedinHaiti.ItwasoutofconcernforprofitandstabilitywithintheUnitedStates'own backyard.ThepurposeofthispaperistoshowthenegativeaspectthattheUnitedStateshadplayed inthegovernmentofHaiti

ThesituationinHaitiwasshowmorecontent

Overonethousandmilesofroadsandtwohundredbridgeswerebuilt.Theoccupiersreconstructed theFrenchirrigationsystemthatHaitihad,newwharvesandacetylenelighthouseswerebuilt. TheatersandparkswererestoredorbuiltfromthegroundupThepublichealthsystemswere enlarged;hospitalsandclinicsweresetupacrossthecountry.EvenAmericandoctorscametotrain Haitiandoctors,andsomeHaitiandoctorswenttotheU.S.tostudy(ThomasSmith:291,video). ThesearetheonlythingsthatHaitibenefitedfromthisintervention.

AnotherachievementmadeduringthistransitionwasthattheMarinesfromtheUSestablished reformationoftheHaitianarmy.TheyreplaceditbyaNationalPoliceForce(LaGarded'Haiti)that dominatedHaitianpoliticseversince.Thisarmyhadbeenconceivedasanonpartisanpeacekeeping forcethatwouldhelpensuretherightkindofpoliticalstabilityDuringtheoccupationitdidso Afterward,howevertheexistenceofsuchaforceendedbyhelpingpoliticalstrongmenstayin power.

"TheHaitianGardewasespeciallycreatedtofightagainstotherHaitians.Itreceiveditsbaptismof fireincombatagainstitscountrymenAndtheGarde,likethearmyitwastosire,hasindeednever foughtanyonebutHaitians.ItsmostimportantcampaignwasitsparticipationalongsidetheMarines inthewaragainstthepeasantnationalistsledbyCharlemagnePeralteandBenoitBattraville,when MarinesandGardetogether

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VoodooinHaitiAtypicalceremonybeginswithaRomanCatholicprayer.Thenthreedrummers begintoplaysyncopatedrhythms.Theattendeesbegintodancearoundatreeinthecenterofthe yard,movingfasterandharderwiththerisingpulseofthebeat.Thepriestdrawssacredsymbolsin thedustwithcornmeal,andrumispouredonthegroundtohonorthespirits.Onewomanfallstothe ground,convulsingforamomentbeforesheishelpedbacktoherfeetSheresumesthedance, movingdifferentlynow,andcontinuesdancingforhours.Itisperhapsnolongershewhois dancing:Sheisinatrance,apparentlypossessedbyvoodoospirits.Voodooisthedominantreligion ofHaitiitissaidthatHaitiansareseventypercentcatholic,showmorecontent Theycanbegood,evil,capricious,ordemanding.Louashowtheirdispleasurebymakingpeople sick,andvoodooisusedtodiagnoseandtreatillnesses.Louaarenotnature'sspirits,andtheydonot makecropsgroworbringrain.Thelouaofonefamilyhavenoclaimovermembersofother families,andtheycannotprotectorharmthem.Voodooistsarethereforenotinterestedinthelouaof otherfamiliesLouaappeartofamilymembersindreamswhichenterthroughtrancesMany Haitiansbelievethatlouaarecapableoftemporarilytakingoverthebodiesofchildren.Menand womenentertranceswhentheyassumethetraitsofaparticularloua.Peopleinatrancefeelgiddy andusuallyremembernothingaftertheyreturntoanormalstateofconsciousness.Voodooexperts saythatthespirittemporarilyreplacesthehumanpersonality.Possessiontrancesoccurusually duringritualssuchasservicesforlouaoravodoundanceinhonorofthelouaLouaappearto entrancedpeople,theymaybringwarningsorexplanationsforthecausesofillnessesormisfortune. Louaoftenengagethecrowdaroundthemthroughflirtation,jokes,oraccusationsAncestorsare associatedwithfamilylouaasthemostimportantspiritualentitiesinvoodooElaboratefuneraland mourningritesreflecttheimportant

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AmericaandHaiti

TheUnitedStatesinterestinHaiti,asmentionedabove,beganahugeincreaseinthefirstdecadeof thetwentiethcentury.TheextentofU.S.economicpenetrationwasnotasgreatasthatofFrance andGermany,butby1910itcontrolledsixtypercentofHaiti'simportindustryUnfortunately,the Haitianbankingsystemdidnotfollowthispathandwas,atthistime,"perilouslycloseto dominationbyEuropeaninterests."(Langley,1982,70)Inanefforttogainmorecontrolover Haitianeconomicaffairs,theUnitedStatesengagedinabattlewithFranceandGermanyoverthe BanqueNationale.TwobanksfromtheU.S.attemptedtoobtaincontrolofthebankbutlostouttoa Germanbank,whichproceededtoallyitselfshowmorecontent

AsU.S.SecretaryofStatePhilanderKnoxstated,"Ifhostilitiesbetweenrivalfactionsbecome imminent,defineneutralzoneandpreventfightinginthecity.Landforcesifnecessary,safeguard Americaninterests,andingeneralpreventanyactiondetrimentaltoforeigninterests"(Challener, 333)However,thepredictedtimebombofHaitineverwentoff,andthesituationwasleftforTaft's successorWoodrowWilsontodealwith.

TheWilsonAdministrationalsosawpoliticalinstabilityasHaiti'sprimaryandimmediateproblem. Between1911andUSmilitaryinterventionin1915,sevenHaitianpresidentshadeitherbeen assassinatedorremovedfromofficebyforce.ThislackofstabilitygavetheUnitedStatesyetone moreexcusetogetinvolvedinHaitianmatters–inordertokeepEuropeanpowersatbayandfrom takingadvantageofthepoliticallyvulnerablestateIncreatinghisHaitianpoliticalagenda,Wilson relied–toagreatextent–ontheadviceofBanqueNationale'sAmericanmanagerRogerFarnham.As statedabove,FarnhamandtheBanquehadagreatdealofpowerovertheHaitianexecutives.When consultedbyWilson,Farnhamdeducedthat"Americanbusinesswouldleavetherepublicunlessthe UnitedStatesintervenedtoprotectit."(Langley,1982,71)Thoughthiswascertainlynotthe decidingfactorintheinterventionoftheUS,itcertainlyhelpeddirectAmericanpolicydownthat particularpath,makinginterventionincreasingly

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Haiti:AnIslandCountry

HaitiisanislandcountrythatborderstheDominicanRepublicandisalsocloseinregiontothe islandsofJamaica,Cuba,andPuertoRico.ThiscountryofHaitihasFrenchasitsnationaltongue, duetoEuropeancolonization,however,thecountryisdominantlyandsignificantlyofAfrican descent.Also,thenation'sofficiallanguageisFrenchandthenativesportinHaitiissoccer.Oneof mygoodfriends,PierreGaston,whoclaimsthe"mountainouscountry"(asitistranslatedinEnglish) ashisoriginalhome,wasdelightedtorecalltheimpactfulmemoriesthatlivinginHaitigrantedhim beforelatermovingtotheUnitedStatesofAmerica.

Beforetheinterview,meandPierretookawalkandhetoldmethathisoldersisterswerecomingto visitMurfreesborofromAntioch,andthattheyweregoingtomakehimatraditionalHaitiandish involvingfriedplantainsthathecouldn'twaitfor.Pierre,hissisters,andhisparentsallpackedtheir thingsandflewtotheUnitedStatesofAmericawhenPierrewas9–years–old.Whenaskedabouthis overallexperienceasachildinHaiti,thethingthatstuckoutinitiallytoPierrewasthedifference betweenhowmediawasavailabletomorepeopleinAmericaasopposedtoHaiti"ThereareTVs andcomputerstherejustlikeintheUnitedStates,butnotsomuchwithregularpopulationaswith thosewhocouldaffordthem.Iknewalotofpeoplewhodidn'thaveaccesstothosethings."said Pierre.Pierrethennotedhowactive

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BACKGROUNDPAPER ON HAITI

1.Thepurposeofthisbackgroundpaperistoaddressthecurrenteconomic,health,andsustenance levelsofHaitiTheimportanceanddegreetowhichtheUnitedStatesofAmericahasimpacted theseconditionswillalsobediscussed.

2.Haiti,especiallyinthepasttenyears,hasbeensubjecttotremendousadversitythathasgreatly affectedtheireconomicandresourcegrowth.Withnearly80%oftheHaitianpopulationliving underthepovertyline,HaitiiscurrentlythepoorestcountryintheWesternHemisphere1The70 magnitudeearthquakethatoccurredinJanuaryof2010,destroyingmuchofPort–au–Prince, proximalcities,andinflicting$7.8billionindamagesfurtherwreakedhavoconanalready sufferingshowmorecontent

ThereisasignificantHaitiandiasporaintheUnitedStatescreatingnewbusinessopportunitiesand fosteringvaluabletiestoourcloseneighborStartedin2008,TheHemisphericOpportunity ThroughPartnershipEncouragement(HOPE)Actandthe2010HaitiEconomicLiftProgram (HELP)areexamplesofsuchtiesthatprovidemanufacturingproductsinHaiti,suchastextileand apparelproductsHaiti'sapparelindustryaccountsfornearly90percentofnationalexportearnings andcreatesapproximately30,000jobopportunities,whichdemonstratesjusthowvitaltheHOPE andHELPActshavebeenwithregardtotheredevelopmentofHaiti'seconomy.1Pertainingtothe healthandsustenancelevelsofHaiti,theUnitedStatesAgencyforInternationalDevelopment (USAID)providesessentialhealth,nutrition,andfamilyplanningeducation,toHaitian communities3TheUSAIDadditionallyaidstoprovideprimaryhealthcareservicesfornearlyhalf oftheHaitianpopulationbycontributingfinancialandeducationalsupportto164oftheirhealth facilities.3Furthermore,toimprovetheeaseofaccessibilityforpeoplewithdisabilities,theUSAID iscurrentlyrenovating12healthcarecentersandschoolsinHaiti3

5ThispaperdiscussedtheeconomicandhealthstatusesofHaitiItfurtheraddressedhowthe UnitedStatesofAmericaaffectsthesestatusesandthesignificanceofthemforbothnations

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Fromthestartlifehasalwaysbeenabattlefieldformeandmyfamily.InHaitimyfatherhad studiedtobecomeanengineerdespitehispoorupbringingandmymotherhadworkedmultiplejobs tohelpsupportthefamily.LifeinHaitihadalreadybeentoughbutafteracoupd'étatandan electiontherewasfinallyhopethatHaitianswouldhavetoliveunderarepressivegovernmentno longerThenewgovernmentcreatedhopewhichwasthensolidifiedwhenDuvalierannouncedhis candidacy,bythistimehewasalreadyawell–knownphysicianthattookpartinmanypublichealth campaigns.MyfatherrememberswhenDuvalierwaselected,withpromisesofrebuildingabroken countryandthehappinessthatfollowed,butthisdidnotlastShortlyaftershowmorecontent Itwasmysisterthattaughtmehowtoread,aboutlife,anddifferentlanguages.Itwasduringthis timethatmysister'sbehaviorstartedtochange.Shesoonbecamemoreirritable,talkedofself–harm,anddevelopeddepressionitmayhavebeenduetothestressorsofhavingtotakecareofthe householdatayoungageandshealsoquicklynoticedthechangeswithinherselfandfeltshame whichmadethesymptomsworseTherewasandisamajorstigmaagainstmentalillnessinHaiti,it isoftenblamedonwitchcraftduetothefactthattherearen'talotofresourcesdevotedtoexplaining andtreatingthispublichealthissue.Mentalillnessisusuallystigmatizedinallcountries,butwe wereluckythatwefoundresourcesinConnecticuttohelpherheal.Iadmiredthemedical professionalsthathelpedmysisterandsawtheirabilitytotouchsomanylivesandbuildalifelong rapportwiththeirpatientsItisoneofthemanyfactorsthatdrewmetothehealthcarefieldItruly wanttomakeamarkonpatients'livesandaidinimplementingpublichealthinitiativesformental healthandlow–income

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Educationplaysabigroleintheworldthatweliveintoday.Havinganeducationwilltakeyouvery farinlifewiththingssuchasowningyourownbusinessandevenjustgettingajob.Everyonehas thedreamofowningabusinessorhavingtheirdreamjob,butforsomepeoplehavingtheirdream joborbeingabossismoredifficultthanitsounds.PlacesintheworldlikeHaitiareverypoor countrieswhichmakesithardforthemtoreceiveagoodeducationInHaiti,educationisanhonor, itisnotarightforthemlikeitisinAmerica,meaningtheeducationisnotatoppriorityfor everyonebecauseoftheeconomicissuesthattheyface.InHaitiabouthalfofthepopulationnever gotthechancetoattendschoolThen,outofthosewhoarefortunateenoughtoattendschoolsixty percentofthestudentsdropoutbeforetheyentersixthgradeandtwentypercentnevermakeitto primaryschool.Theseproblemsareduetobeingapartoftheseveralpoorincomefamiliesandthey needtheirchildrentoworkinsteadofattendingclassbut,thisallisjustastarttotheunderstanding ofeducationinHaiti.OneproblemthattheHaitianshaveintheeducationschoolsystemislow enrollmentInHaititheprimaryschoolenrollmentisroughlyseventy–fivepercentwhichisan improvementfromearlieryearsbutisstillverylow.AnaverageHaitian,whoistwenty–fiveyears orolder,haslessthanfiveyearsofschoolingoutoftheirentirelife.Schoolfeescanbeprohibitively ...Getmorecontent...

3155

09/16/16wasthedatethatmymothertoldmethatIhavetogoHaiti."Whatfor"Icouldn'tbelieve it"Ihave3APclasses!areyouserious?!Pleasedon'tmakemego"Irememberpleadingher.Itwas forimmigrationpurposes,inordertostayIhadtogetmypermanentresidenceorelseIhadtosay goodbyetothislandthathasbeinghomefor6years

Iwasneverbrave,IwasforcedtobestrongaftertheHaitiEarthquakeandIlearnedtoliveby myselfbutIwasneverbrave.Iwentbytherules,Imadepeoplehappy,Itooknorisk,Itriedmy bestonsomethingandwhenIfailedImovedontosomethingelseIneverpushedmyselfWhenI realizedIwastofarintotheyearandIcouldn'tjustdropeverythingandmoveon,Ibecamelost.I didn'tknowthisfeelingbecausemylifewasalwaysincontrol.Ihadgoodgrades,goodGPAand admiredbymanyteachers.Icouldn'tacceptthefactthatmylifewasabouttodrasticallychange. Atthatmoment,mybiggestweakness,fear,said"hello".Afterthe...showmorecontent...

Ikeptontellingmyselfthatmygradesdidn'tdefinemeandIwasgreatstudent OfcourseIwasgreatstudent,thatwaslettingfearinvadeher.Leadinghertothinkthatsheisnot collegematerial,shewasanunworthystudent.Fearmademeweak,hurtandpessimist.Iwas slowlylosingallhopeinmyfuture.Iwaslosingmyselftofear.

Onenight,fearwokemeupandremindedmeofallmyflaws,Ifeltwasmychestwasheavy.I couldn'tbreatheItoldmyselfmaybeifyoutalktotheteacherstheycouldhelpyouormaybe maybe...maybeifyoustoplookingforpityparty,stopwhiningandstartlookingforasolution. Maybeyoutakecontrolandletfeargo.Maybeifyoutry,thenmaybe31and55willtakeadifferent route

Lookingatmyselfinthemirrorthatnight.Myeyes,redandpuffy.Ididn'tlikewhatIfeltorsaw.I didn'twanttobethisself–loathing

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Haitiisconsideredoneofthepoorestcountriesinthewesternhemisphere,withmorethan60%of itspopulationlivinginpoverty.Thelonghistoryofpoliticalandeconomicinstabilityalongwith Haiti'sgrowingsusceptibilitytonaturaldisastershasnegativelyimpactedthelong–termsustainable developmentofthesmallisland.DuetotheconditionsofHaitiandstarkdivisionbetweentherich andpoor,nearlyhalfofthepopulationlackaccesstoeducation,healthandeconomicresources necessaryforgrowth.ThecatastrophicearthquakethathitHaitiin2010onlyfurtherexacerbatedthe direstateofHaiti.Lookingatthecountrytoday,thereseemstobelittleproductivity.However,most areunawarethatHaitiwasonceoneoftherichestcoloniesintheNewWorldWhatwasoncecalled oneoftherichestcoloniesintheNewWorldhasbecomeacountrythattoday,isalongwayfrom realizingtheeffectivegoalof"buildingbackbetter."Haiti,alreadyanimpoverishednation,appears inmanywaystohavebarelystartedrecoverysixyearslater,despitethealleged$2billiondollars andmoreinforeignaid.Mediapointsoutthatschoolsarebeingrebuilt,andsomeresidentsarenow beginningtomoveoutoftheencampments,rediscoveringasenseofcommunityButjobsanda senseofsecurityremainamystery.Background

PétionvilleisasuburbofPort–au–Prince,Haitiwhererichbusinessmen,foreigners,andwealthy Haitiancitizenpopulate.Consideredoneofthemost

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TheislandnationofHaitiisthepoorestcountryintheWesternHemisphere,withoneinfour inhabitantsofthissmallCaribbeannationlivinginextremepoverty.Plaguedbypoliticalinstability, aswellasthedevastatingaftermathofthe2010earthquake,thecountryofHaitiisstillstruggling forrecovery.

Inthewakeoftheworstearthquakeina200–yearhistoryofHaiti,anestimated15millionpeople werelefthomeless.Therehabilitationprocessfortheaffectedpopulationiscrippledbythefinancial hardshipsofthecountry.AccordingtoaWorldBankreport,oneintwoHaitiansliveinpoverty, livingonlessthan3dollarsaday

Theextremepovertyconditionsinthecountryhaveunsurprisinglyaffectedthehealthcaresystem asshowmorecontent

AccordingtoUNICEF,maternalmortalityinHaitiis35womenoutofeverythousand;neonatal healthcareisequallyabysmal,with3.1percentofnewbornsdyingwithinthefirstmonthafterbirth.

Mostofthematernalandneonataldeathsareconsideredlargelypreventable,givenadequate healthcareresources.Accessibilitytotheseresourcesisanotherimportantissue,withlessthan36 percentofpregnantwomengivingbirthinanyhealthcarefacility.

ThepoorstateofmaternalhealthhasspurredMaternalLifeInternational–anon–profitorganization basedinMontana–todirecttheireffortsforbettermaternalandneonatalhealthcareatHaiti.Their objectiveistobuildfamilyhealthofficesinthecountrytoassistpregnantwomenandnewborns Aslaudableastheirmissionis,itisfacedwiththedifficultiesofresourcescarcityinHaiti.Thelack oflumberinHaitiisamajorobstacleinrebuildingthecountry.ThedeforestationofHaitihaslong beenanissueofconcernfortheislandnation,affectingtheeconomicandecologicalhealthofthe country.WoodisquitesignificantforbuildingstructuresinHaiti,ascementbuildingsareadanger inaregionsusceptibletoto

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