Don’t knock it until you know some facts
The nation, the most populous in the Caribbean, came forcefully to the world’s attention on January 12, 2010, when a major earthquake ripped through Haiti, killing hundreds of thousands and injuring thousands as well, as falling buildings amputated limbs and broke spines.
Billions were promised. NGOs poured in. American and French military showed up to help dig out, and a US Navy hospital ship treated many of the grievously wounded. You began to see the word “espwa” — hope — on billboards and signs. Many believed, and rightly so, that the moment was propitious for improving the fortunes of Haiti. One reason was that for the first time, Haitian elites had also been deeply affected by the disaster.
The militaries did well, and then left, missions accomplished. But the billions did not materialize. Many NGOs soaked up a lot of the funds, and just carried on with their specific mission, whether local Haitians wanted what they offered or not. Hope faded, even as the Haitian people continued to survive despite the odds.
Fifteen years later…
Since then, from political calamities to natural catastrophes, Haitians have gone from pillar to post. The still-unsolved assassination of the president, Jovenal Moïse, in July 2021[1] was the trigger for an…
