“I remember what Haiti once was”
These are the words I heard when I went to a Haitian family friend’s graduation party this past Sunday. As we are chowing down on savory goat, rice and peas, and plantain, one of the family members spoke passionately in her thick French-Haitian accent about the Haiti she once knew in her childhood. She spoke about how Haiti used to be with Francois Duvalier (Papa Doc) as president before the corrupt presidents Jean-Claude Duvalier (Baby Doc, his son) and Jean-Bertrand Aristide (the corrupt priest) came into to office. She spoke about how in the ‘70’s, it was Haiti, not the Dominican Republic, that was the destination of many tourists on the island of Hispaniola. She told us how Bill Clinton had his honeymoon in Haiti. Imagine that! That was during Papa Doc’s regime, however. Papa Doc was very popular, but also corrupt as well. The difference was that the country as a whole was doing better. She told us how the politicians had avenues of bringing revenue to the country, but stashed it all to themselves keeping the country relatively poor. One of them, I don’t remember who, had trunks of cash in one of his homes. The trunks were found when the home was torched. The money had melted with some other object and had become useless, but the man still had another surplus elsewhere. She also spoke about how Aristide, a priest mind you, killed the doctors, lawyers, and many of the members of academia to keep the followers “dumb” so he could have a following. He rid the country of independent thinkers so that he could brain-wash those with weaker minds. It was a time of much bloodshed.
She also told us stories, translating her stories from French to English quite smoothly, of when she was younger during Papa Doc’s regime. Hanging out until 12 midnight after a sport’s game in the streets was a normality in her childhood. The same cannot be said for those who came after her. When she moved to the states she felt sorrow about the turmoil that was and has been happening in Haiti. Her children have never been. Her funniest story (well, not really FUNNY, but kind of) was of the new president, Sweet Micky. There were roars of laughter when his named was mentioned. The new president of Haiti, Michel Martelly, used to be a rapper and performer. We were slightly shocked that this was even allowed, but then thought nothing of it. She said that people over the age of 50 do not like him and don’t think highly of him while those below 50 love him. Her opinion was that as long as he fixes what’s broken and gets the job done right, she is okay with him.
After speaking about politics and history, the Haitian cake and carrot cake were brought out. The grads gave their speeches and then everyone toasted and indulged in the saccharine deliciousness. I would have to say it was a good evening.
Michel Joseph Martelly, current president of Haiti
Jean-Bertand Aristide, Catholic priest and former president of Haiti
Papa Doc and Baby Doc, both form presidents