Haiti

Haiti -- Present

A beautiful country of high mountains, sweeping valleys, gorgeous beaches full of proud, industrious people -- the real Haiti awaits discovery.  Long misunderstood from decades of irresponsible, reckless and heartless portrayals by journalists and statesmen, Haitians are friendly and ready to make a friend and in turn be a life long friend.  Genuine and trusting, Haitians are people who need no warming up to.

Haiti is at once a country of needs and opportunities, a country of high unemployment yet rich in people willing to work and work hard.  It should be noted that of all that is printed about the Haitian influx into the U.S. the one fact that is generally left out is the almost universal acceptance by U.S. employers of the Haitian employee as a strong, unwavering worker.  From construction throughout the work arena, Haitians are sought after for their industriousness.  However, any Haitian will tell you that their first choice is not to migrate to other countries.  Haitians love Haiti!  It is just that simple.  Few Haitians living abroad would have taken the voyage had a job been available. 

Much is said about Haitian politics, but only journalists will make politics out as bigger than the Haitian himself.  If in fact Haitian politics are never to change, neither will the fact that people are safer in Haiti than most anywhere else in the world.  The streets of Haiti are not crawling with crazed, machete and gun wielding thugs looking for foreigners to butcher; and for all its failings, the Haitian government has not and does not seize foreign enterprises.  Visitors return with the rather unexciting new that Haiti, contrary to everything they read prior to going, is a safe place full of friendly people. 

Haiti -- Future

The future of Haiti lies in the stability of the family.  A stable family in Haiti, is one of strong faith that is supported through one or more of the family members having a job.  It is said that 40 people are affected directly and over 100 indirectly by one paycheck.  These people can stretch a "gourde", the name for Haiti's money, until it disappears.  Consequently, the need for hospitals, orphanages, half-way houses, clinics and houses for the dying, etc., would be dramatically reduced and the flight of Haitians to the U.S. and Dominican Republic would fall to a trickle if jobs were available. 

Haitians are no different from anyone else on earth in that their spiritual walk is threatened when they feel confidence lacking.  A job allows one to act out that faith and in turn be a walking, talking role model.  Haiti was once the bread basket of Europe and a major exporter of agricultural goods to the U.S.  Haiti can still be a major force in the world and region agriculturally as Haitians excel at agriculture and the value added process from that agriculture production that produces products much admired and sought after in the industrialized world.  Haiti enjoys a unique status as a people still willing to work and soil that can produce almost anything with a year round growing season.