Read Paul Biddle's fourth instalment from Haiti
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Haiti means Land of the High Mountains and as you take the short trip from Santo Domingo to Port au Prince in the UN plane, you get a very good glimpse of how rough the land is and how hardy the people have to be to survive here. British involvement in Haiti was a small footnote in history. Invading in 1793, we were sent packing by 1798. This was part of the wars against the French, a small reminder still survives in the British fort in the south of the country It is therefore with some sense of irony that we have returned to Haiti with a very able Frenchman on the team! Our excellent local staff, who have been with us from the start, are truly exceptional. We would not have achieved what we have without their cheerful support. Our work here moves on apace. Ground has been broken on the two construction projects and we have almost daily workshops on prison design and prison policy. .We have steered away from the dreaded “death by power point” - beloved of by so many! Instead through open discussions and scenario based workshops, we have engaged our Haitian colleagues. Our work here is not about quick wins but about sustainability. |
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Although it’s not as hot as Helmand, the humidity is through the roof. The country is also suffering from a massive fuel shortage with all the garages closed. On Sunday we were caught in a massive downpour with the roads flooded and visibility down to zero. I can only imagine what it must be like in the camps. Haiti is still a country devastated by the legacy of the recent earthquake but slowly but surely, the Haitians are getting their country back on its feet |
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