THUNDER BAY - As more Canadians return from Haiti after being trapped due to growing unrest and protests that blocked roadways to the airport in Port-au-Prince, one Thunder Bay woman, who is staying, says the tragedy of the situation is not just about foreigners trying to leave the nation, but how it is impacting those who call Haiti home.
“The reality is I have the opportunity to go home to a peaceful, democratic place with too much food, too much clean water, and too many resources,” said Erin Hennel. “The people that live here and are being affected by the violent protests do not have this option. They cannot escape the multifaceted monster that is poverty in Haiti.”
Hennel, who was born and raised in Thunder Bay, has travelled to Haiti five times since 2016 and she is currently volunteering as a pre-school teacher at a children’s home in a community two hours north of Port-au-Prince.
For nearly two weeks, anti-government protestors have taken to the streets in the Caribbean nation, calling for President Jovenel Moise’s resignation amid allegations of government corruption, a lack of transparency, rising inflation, and alleged misappropriation of money from the Venezuela-sponsored oil program, PetroCaribe.
According to Hennel, there has been tension in the nation since last July when similar protests were held over the announcement of potential gas price increases. A sense of calm and normalcy returned, but unrest began again in November and in February, protests were announced and have been ongoing for more than 11 days.
The inflation rate of the Haitian gourde has been sky rocking, with the exchange rate at approximately 82 gourde to $1 U.S. According to Hennel, an onion at the market that used to cost 20 gourde now costs 50, which is something most Haitians cannot afford.
“Inflation at this rate means people can’t afford water or food,” Hennel said. “Gas is almost impossible to find. Schools are closed as teachers either are not getting paid or are not showing up. Hospitals are closed because it has become unsafe, they can’t pay their staff, or they are running out of supplies.”
The demonstrations have turned violent at times and the Canadian government issued a travel warning, advising citizens to avoid all travel to the country. The Canadian embassy was also forced to close its doors last week due to growing unrest.
Most of the violent protests are taking place in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and Hennel said she is grateful to “have a little corner of peace here.”
But the unrest is still being felt outside of the capital and Hennel said normally staff makes trips to Port-au-Prince once a week to pick up more supplies but they have not been able to for the last two weeks.
“We are running low on some things but we are okay,” Hennel said. “We acknowledge that we have the luxury of being able to store our food. We have freezers and fridges. We clean our own water. We have solar power. These are things that the average Haitian just doesn’t have. Most Haitians attend market every two or three days to get food for their families. When markets closed, people started to starve.”
Students at the children’s home have also not been able to attend school for the past two weeks and have been greatly affected by the turmoil engulfing their country.
“We are fortunate to have a safe place for them, with families to love them,” Hennel said. “They get three meals a day, fresh, clean water. They have a home that is safe. This is not the reality of their school mates.”
This past weekend, Canadians in Haiti, including missionaries, aid workers, and tourists have started to return to Canada after being unable to leave the country because protestors blocked roads in the capital.
But for people living in Haiti who do not have a choice but to stay, the increasing violent nature of the demonstrations is making something as simple as travelling to work or going to the market much more dangerous.
“A few of our staff came to work, not by taking the road, but by walking through the hills on the outskirts of the city,” Hennel said. “Some had been exposed to teargas while seeking shelter in their homes. When teargas is released in the streets, it seeps into the homes of locals trying to seek refuge. Most Haitians don’t have windows that seal.”
“Last week, gunshots were heard on the road outside our wall,” Hennel added. “Shortly after we learned that it was police firing into the air to try to get people to clear a roadblock.”
Hopeful for the future
In the last three days, Hennel said she has heard traffic on the roadway again outside the children’s home and there are reports that some schools in Port-au-Prince and other areas may open soon, so she remains hopeful these are signs of things returning to normal again.
Hennel said the protests feel more like acts of desperation from people who don’t feel they have any other options and not a desire to inflict violence but despite all the unrest she believes many Haitian people have hope for their country.
“I know many Haitians want and need change,” she said. “And I can imagine that they too are heartbroken and angry after not just years, but centuries of political unrest.”
Haiti’s history is fraught with corruption, dictatorships, military coups, and unrest since it was founded, and Hennel said it will take a lot of time and a lot of people willing to start anew to create a strong country.
But the unrest and violence has not made Hennel question returning to Haiti in the future because she loves the people and the kids and the children’s home where she volunteers, which helps hundreds of people.
“I love this country and my heart breaks to see it tearing apart,” she said. “I have hope for Haiti, that someday, enough people will believe in change and turn this incredible country away from practices of the past 200 years. I have hope for the people that call this country home; that they will come together to make solutions for their communities.”
