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Haiti's Large Businesses Shutter Doors as the Poor Markets Remain Open
Port au Prince- A general strike called in Haiti today by 184 "civil society" organizations quickly began to resemble a strike called by the Democratic Convergence last December 4, 2002. Businesses that largely cater to Haiti’s small upper and middle classes remained shuttered today while the majority of small marketplace women, known as ti machann, were clearly open and doing a brisk business.
FROM: Kevin Pina <kpinbox [at] hotmail.com>
Haiti's Large Businesses Shutter Doors as the Poor Markets Remain Open
By Kevin Pina
January 24, 2003
Port au Prince- A general strike called in Haiti today by 184 "civil society" organizations quickly began to resemble a strike called by the Democratic Convergence last December 4, 2002. Businesses that largely cater to Haiti’s small upper and middle classes remained shuttered today while the majority of small marketplace women, known as ti machann, were clearly open and doing a brisk business.
Although not officially behind today’s general strike, the Washington backed Democratic Convergence continued calling for Aristide’s resignation while demanding Haitians respect the strike in support of the new "civil society" group claiming to represent "all sectors of Haitian society." While tacitly accepting support from the Convergence, the "civil society" organizations insisted it was not their goal to force Aristide’s resignation. This appeared at odds with their simultaneous claims that the government no longer enjoys credibility with a majority of the Haitian people. As one Lavalas insider summed it up, "They are supporting the premises of the Convergence [about Aristide and Lavalas] while saving the option of dramatically calling for his resignation at a later date. They think this will give them greater credibility and effectively isolate middle-class support away from Lavalas. They are talking out of both sides of their mouths."
Most banks, gas stations, supermarkets and specialty shops kept their doors closed today which stood in stark contrast to the bustling activity in the marketplaces of the poor. "Only those who have money and can afford to stay closed are behind this strike," stated one woman as she paused from bickering with a customer over the price of carrots. Other small merchants defiantly held their hands open with five fingers extended to symbolize their support for President Aristide completing his five-year term in office. A Lavalas coordinator commented on the strike, "If the organizers of this strike represent civil society then how do we describe the majority of the poor who do not support this strike? Don’t we count as civil society as well or are we still to accept them looking down upon the poor majority as lessor citizens? Are we to accept their statements that they are smarter and know what is best for Haiti? They should know we no longer accept that mentality here in Haiti and if they want to determine the future then they should participate in elections and win the right to do so. There is no other way."
Several small pickup trucks, known as tap-taps and the backbone of transportation for the poor, could be seen disgorging their human cargo after running out of gas. One tap-tap driver angrily denounced gas station owners for participating in the strike, "You see we are here to work, people want to get about their business but I cannot get gas today because the gas stations are closed." Suddenly a second truck pulled up behind his tap-tap and offered to sell him 5 gallons of gas at cost. "You see that?" asked the driver excitedly. He continued, "That is why this strike won’t work because we are all together to keep the country working." The driver then poured the precious juice into his vehicle from 5 plastic gallon containers, paid the second driver, loaded his passengers and continued the journey up the road.
Haiti's Large Businesses Shutter Doors as the Poor Markets Remain Open
By Kevin Pina
January 24, 2003
Port au Prince- A general strike called in Haiti today by 184 "civil society" organizations quickly began to resemble a strike called by the Democratic Convergence last December 4, 2002. Businesses that largely cater to Haiti’s small upper and middle classes remained shuttered today while the majority of small marketplace women, known as ti machann, were clearly open and doing a brisk business.
Although not officially behind today’s general strike, the Washington backed Democratic Convergence continued calling for Aristide’s resignation while demanding Haitians respect the strike in support of the new "civil society" group claiming to represent "all sectors of Haitian society." While tacitly accepting support from the Convergence, the "civil society" organizations insisted it was not their goal to force Aristide’s resignation. This appeared at odds with their simultaneous claims that the government no longer enjoys credibility with a majority of the Haitian people. As one Lavalas insider summed it up, "They are supporting the premises of the Convergence [about Aristide and Lavalas] while saving the option of dramatically calling for his resignation at a later date. They think this will give them greater credibility and effectively isolate middle-class support away from Lavalas. They are talking out of both sides of their mouths."
Most banks, gas stations, supermarkets and specialty shops kept their doors closed today which stood in stark contrast to the bustling activity in the marketplaces of the poor. "Only those who have money and can afford to stay closed are behind this strike," stated one woman as she paused from bickering with a customer over the price of carrots. Other small merchants defiantly held their hands open with five fingers extended to symbolize their support for President Aristide completing his five-year term in office. A Lavalas coordinator commented on the strike, "If the organizers of this strike represent civil society then how do we describe the majority of the poor who do not support this strike? Don’t we count as civil society as well or are we still to accept them looking down upon the poor majority as lessor citizens? Are we to accept their statements that they are smarter and know what is best for Haiti? They should know we no longer accept that mentality here in Haiti and if they want to determine the future then they should participate in elections and win the right to do so. There is no other way."
Several small pickup trucks, known as tap-taps and the backbone of transportation for the poor, could be seen disgorging their human cargo after running out of gas. One tap-tap driver angrily denounced gas station owners for participating in the strike, "You see we are here to work, people want to get about their business but I cannot get gas today because the gas stations are closed." Suddenly a second truck pulled up behind his tap-tap and offered to sell him 5 gallons of gas at cost. "You see that?" asked the driver excitedly. He continued, "That is why this strike won’t work because we are all together to keep the country working." The driver then poured the precious juice into his vehicle from 5 plastic gallon containers, paid the second driver, loaded his passengers and continued the journey up the road.
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I went to Haiti the weekend of September 18, 2001. I have never seen such SEVERE poverty in all of my life. I went through Port Au Prince and saw garbage piles of filth that had a horrid, death savoring odor which permeated my nose hairs for weeks. I will never forget it. Smiles, but not as many as one would expect from such a close-market community. There were ramshackle structures that people lived in. Dirt floors, no windows. Piles of trash literally lining the streets. Ash and smoke rising from the sewers as a man walks through them. Corporate signs for Heineken and Blue Bunny ice cream. I wondered what those companies are doing for the families who have absolutely nothing. I looked on at the Haitian White House where this "leader" resides and got a good sense of the have and have nots. I saw children lugging product to sell, too heavy for their small bodies, while other children dressed in uniform went to private school; the only type of school system they have there. I have the pictures to prove it, and I'd love to share.
Growing up in Florida, I can now understand why so many people for so many years have fled, risking everything they have for a chance to live and enjoy life.
I say, rise up, revolt! Haiti is so rich in culture, history, has such beautiful, tropical land. the potential is there. Remember how important it is to cease the day, how important it is to treat each other kindly and not to hoard unnecessary quantities of resources while your neighbors are starving. That is not what power is for. Leaders are to teach wisdom, love, contentedness, and order.
So, where does all the money go, when it comes to Haiti? Why are their people so poor? There is no excuse for this, it's just not necessary. Revolt peacefully, and I stand in solidarity with you.
Growing up in Florida, I can now understand why so many people for so many years have fled, risking everything they have for a chance to live and enjoy life.
I say, rise up, revolt! Haiti is so rich in culture, history, has such beautiful, tropical land. the potential is there. Remember how important it is to cease the day, how important it is to treat each other kindly and not to hoard unnecessary quantities of resources while your neighbors are starving. That is not what power is for. Leaders are to teach wisdom, love, contentedness, and order.
So, where does all the money go, when it comes to Haiti? Why are their people so poor? There is no excuse for this, it's just not necessary. Revolt peacefully, and I stand in solidarity with you.
I went to Haiti the weekend of September 18, 2001. I have never seen such SEVERE poverty in all of my life. I went through Port Au Prince and saw garbage piles of filth that had a horrid, death savoring odor which permeated my nose hairs for weeks. I will never forget it. Smiles, but not as many as one would expect from such a close-market community. There were ramshackle structures that people lived in. Dirt floors, no windows. Piles of trash literally lining the streets. Ash and smoke rising from the sewers as a man walks through them. Corporate signs for Heineken and Blue Bunny ice cream. I wondered what those companies are doing for the families who have absolutely nothing. I looked on at the Haitian White House where this "leader" resides and got a good sense of the have and have nots. I saw children lugging product to sell, too heavy for their small bodies, while other children dressed in uniform went to private school; the only type of school system they have there. I have the pictures to prove it, and I'd love to share.
Growing up in Florida, I can now understand why so many people for so many years have fled, risking everything they have for a chance to live and enjoy life.
I say, rise up, revolt! Haiti is so rich in culture, history, has such beautiful, tropical land. the potential is there. Remember how important it is to cease the day, how important it is to treat each other kindly and not to hoard unnecessary quantities of resources while your neighbors are starving. That is not what power is for. Leaders are to teach wisdom, love, contentedness, and order.
So, where does all the money go, when it comes to Haiti? Why are their people so poor? There is no excuse for this, it's just not necessary. Revolt peacefully, and I stand in solidarity with you.
Growing up in Florida, I can now understand why so many people for so many years have fled, risking everything they have for a chance to live and enjoy life.
I say, rise up, revolt! Haiti is so rich in culture, history, has such beautiful, tropical land. the potential is there. Remember how important it is to cease the day, how important it is to treat each other kindly and not to hoard unnecessary quantities of resources while your neighbors are starving. That is not what power is for. Leaders are to teach wisdom, love, contentedness, and order.
So, where does all the money go, when it comes to Haiti? Why are their people so poor? There is no excuse for this, it's just not necessary. Revolt peacefully, and I stand in solidarity with you.
"So, where does all the money go, when it comes to Haiti? Why are their people so poor? There is no excuse for this, it's just not necessary. Revolt peacefully, and I stand in solidarity with you."
The $132,000,000 million dollars in aid from the US government has gone directly to various non-governmental organizations. What acheivements can we mark for these tax payer dollars? Support for an unpopular Washington backed coalition of rag tag and morally bankrupt "opposition" parties and a "civil society" that is neither civil nor representative of Haiti's poor majority. The Haitian government has not been given a dime yet literacy rates have fallen and new roads have been built while suffering continues as a result of the economic embargo. The majority of the poor overwhelmingly elected this government into office which constitutes your "peaceful revolution" in my eyes. What is not peaceful is the daily violence of poverty which is a direct result of the US government's attempts to destabilize popular democracy in Haiti.
While you may see the presidential palace as representative of the struggle between the "haves" and "have nots", this is the first government where the poor have been invited inside to discuss their problems directly with the president. This has made Aristide very unpopular with the traditional wealthy elite and their friends in Washington who believe such riff -raff have no place being anywhere near the seat of power in Haiti.
I am sorry you saw so little while seeing so much during your trip to Haiti. I hope you return again and have an opportunity to see past the symbols and delve into the inner reality of life for the poor majority of Haiti's wonderful people.
The $132,000,000 million dollars in aid from the US government has gone directly to various non-governmental organizations. What acheivements can we mark for these tax payer dollars? Support for an unpopular Washington backed coalition of rag tag and morally bankrupt "opposition" parties and a "civil society" that is neither civil nor representative of Haiti's poor majority. The Haitian government has not been given a dime yet literacy rates have fallen and new roads have been built while suffering continues as a result of the economic embargo. The majority of the poor overwhelmingly elected this government into office which constitutes your "peaceful revolution" in my eyes. What is not peaceful is the daily violence of poverty which is a direct result of the US government's attempts to destabilize popular democracy in Haiti.
While you may see the presidential palace as representative of the struggle between the "haves" and "have nots", this is the first government where the poor have been invited inside to discuss their problems directly with the president. This has made Aristide very unpopular with the traditional wealthy elite and their friends in Washington who believe such riff -raff have no place being anywhere near the seat of power in Haiti.
I am sorry you saw so little while seeing so much during your trip to Haiti. I hope you return again and have an opportunity to see past the symbols and delve into the inner reality of life for the poor majority of Haiti's wonderful people.
Finally an article that tells the story from the perspective of Haiti's poor majority. As long as governments, journalists and foreigners keep looking at things through the eyes of Domino's franchisees, Haiti's poor will continue their three centuries of suffering. Only by looking through the eyes of the poor will we be able to recommend sensible policies.
It is ironic that Domino's Pizza chooses to open a store in
the poorest country in the hemisphere.
The vast majority of Haitians can be careless about the
Domino's Pizza strike because they can not afford to buy
even a slice. The pizza is an American import in Haiti to
feed the sons and daughters of the "bourgeois mercantile"
because they have the dollars paid to them by those who
have exploited the people of Haiti for 200 years.
Franck Casseus.
the poorest country in the hemisphere.
The vast majority of Haitians can be careless about the
Domino's Pizza strike because they can not afford to buy
even a slice. The pizza is an American import in Haiti to
feed the sons and daughters of the "bourgeois mercantile"
because they have the dollars paid to them by those who
have exploited the people of Haiti for 200 years.
Franck Casseus.
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