Mardi Gras, Carnival, Fat Tuesday, whatever you like to call it is pretty big deal in Haiti. Most years, Hundreds of Thousands are spent building huge stages for the days of parades and festivals. Each year a city is chosen in Haiti to host the Carnival. Like any big festival the country nearly shuts down during these days as people celebrate, party, and partake in the festivities.
Personally I have never chosen to partake in the festivities. To me it is more a time of tolerating the chaos, waiting for life to get back to normal. Some missionaries strategically plan vacations outside of the country during the long weekend.
Lately, for economic development reasons I have been able to look at the Carnival celebration from a slightly different view. Even though I choose not to participate, the festivities draw thousands of international visitors each year to come and participate in the festivals. The biggest musical groups have concerts. The Hotels are all booked. Restaurants are slammed, and for a long weekend Haitians have the opportunity to make some money.
As a supplier to multiple restaurants and businesses that have been gearing up for this years carnival we are devastated to learn that yesterday, the first day of Carnival, the President of Haiti was forced to Cancel Carnival for this year. Click Here to read the story published by the New York Times.
Political instability continue to rock Haiti. It has continued to manifest and show itself through multiple forms. This past one is one of potentially more concern. The police force strategically held a rally protesting unfair work conditions, low pay, and no access to the national social security program (ONA). A few days ago the president gave into some of their requests, however they were not satisfied so they began protesting again yesterday.
In what I find pretty interesting, it is reported that the Army responded to try and dissolve the solution, which ended in a battle that lasted for hours. A few years ago Haiti did not have an army. I knew that about 2 years ago they created one, but it was always reported that the army was more a of a core of engineers that were going to be used to help improve infrastructure. This was, as far as I know, the first time they have been called to battle, and unfortunately they were fighting the very people that are trying to keep peace in the country.
This is an extremely complex issue, with multiple sides, years of history, and I am probably not even doing the story justice trying to explain it here. My point today is that even if what we are reading in the news today is only half true, this is again another huge tragedy in Haiti.
When I moved to Haiti in 2010 the UN patrolled the streets along with the Haitien Police. you often saw tanks on wheels, and large patrols of the UN ordered to assist the police in maintaining peace within the City. As the UN have left that void has needed to be filled by the Police. Haiti has strived to build domestic and international confidence of its police force, despite being unbelievably un-trained, unequipped, underpaid, and understaffed. The actions of the past week, but especially yesterday continue to make it harder and harder.
Tens of thousands of people have put forth efforts to work harder across the country to make a few bucks. With Carnival being canceled, and fear returning to the streets those efforts were nearly all lost.
Finally I will not let the actions of a few represent the masses of Haiti. We continue to maintain a great relationship with several police officers and 2 police stations. The officers are doing the best that they can with the resources they are provided. I refuse to believe that the result of all this is what the masses wanted, but instead a group of unruly criminals trying to grow their gangs by use of fear and violence.
My opinion is that the continued weaponizing of social media to distribute an augmented fear based reality will continue to be the most powerful weapon in the years ahead.
Please continue to pray for us for peace and prosperity and truth to shine down on Haiti. May better days lie ahead.
-Nick Stolberg