A desperate population faced with a “failed state

As Haitian journalist and blogger Fanel DELVA so aptly put it: the life expectancy of a Haitian is 24 renewable hours. The new formula: See you tomorrow or later, if the bandits let us live!

These young people are hoping for a good life, but too bad they’re always left to their own devices. The chaotic situation never ceases to blur the future of these young people, who often become confused at the first wave of the onslaught of bad governance by the Haitian authorities. They feel more disoriented, demotivated and indignant by the situation. Many are wondering about their future, their destiny. How can a young person succeed in Haiti? Some university students are forced to flee the country, heading for the Dominican Republic or other countries in search of a better life.

Geraldine EMMANUEL, a nurse and mother of a 2-year-old boy, is devastated by the country’s current socio-economic and political situation. “As a mother, it’s a difficult situation to manage, since my only son can’t stay with me in the capital. I work in Port-au-Prince, but I’m forced to take him to live with my parents in Jérémie, to spare him from kidnapping. It’s eating me up inside not being able to take care of him”.

Businesswoman Dashca LOUIS is concerned about the severity of events, and this is having an impact on the running of her business. “The conditions are not advantageous for anyone. Especially when it comes to micro-businesses. It upsets both the small staff and the management. This is to tell you that business at the moment is a reflection of the country”. She continues: “This feeling of insecurity weakens the team’s efficiency, but also the flexibility of our customers. We find ourselves in a situation where we work from day to day, waiting for the next slip-up. What’s more, ‘si peyi a pa cho’ is becoming our main way of talking.

This young professional and ANDC graduate, who spoke on condition of anonymity, is overwhelmed by daily fear. She is not immune to the phenomenon of kidnapping, which ruins the economy of many families and never ceases to intimidate the population and even those whose mission it is to protect and serve. “I’m in pain. I’m frightened. I’m frustrated. I’m powerless. Nothing makes sense anymore. Nothing interests me anymore. She goes on to ask: “What future can I expect here? According to her, those in charge prioritize electrification over education, which is the path to development.

Kidnapping is a calamity for the Haitian population. What’s worse, the “authorities” in place seem incapable of responding to this phenomenon. A worrying situation. Lawyer Ricardson Bigot denounces the incompetence of the State. “Given the inertia or non-existence of a State capable of curbing this problem which is eating away at society, citizens don’t know which way to turn. Sometimes, ransoms amount to half a million US dollars. Relatives are forced to ruin in the space of a blink an economy built up over twenty years, just to free a loved one”.

“It’s on the minds of every citizen in the country. As a lawyer, I can’t even go to court because of the insecurity. My clients are scared too. What’s more, the magistrates’ strike is paralyzing lawyers’ activities”, says Ricardson Bigot.

To combat kidnapping, which continues to decapitalize the population, the authorities are trying to take certain measures, including setting up an anti-kidnapping unit and removing paint from vehicles. Some say these measures are bogus. Will these new strategies solve the kidnapping problem?