Waiting for news

Jean Olibris is an optimist.

He hasn’t heard from his family in Haiti since a devastating earthquake, measuring 7.0 in magnitude, rocked a portion of the Caribbean island, killing as many as 200,000. Olibris chalked up the silence to a communications infrastructure in shatters, a matter made that much worse by Wednesday’s aftershock that sent more rubble tumbling to the streets and an already distressed population scrambling to escape the capital Port-au-Prince.

His optimism is derived mainly from the fact his parents live nowhere near the epicenter of the quake, which has rallied aid workers from around the world, including Canada, to help Haitians rebuild their lives.

"My parents live in the north part of the country, at the border of the centre and northern (part of Haiti). We don’t have any news yet from there. We don’t know how the situation is there. I assume that it may not be too bad, because the centre of the earthquake … is in the south part of the country," said Olibris, who immigrated to Canada in 1975, at the age of 30, and today practices family law in Thunder Bay.

He expects it will be some time before he gets confirmation that his family is safe.

Because of his legal practice and the cost of travelling to the tropical nation of 10 million, which shares the island of with the more tourist-friendly Dominican Republic, it’s usually years between visits.

"The telephone system is connected to Port-au-Prince. So when Port-au-Prince is down, the other places will have problem. I just assume they’re all right."

Olibris said earthquakes weren’t unknown while he was growing up, but they were typically minor. The last time a quake of this magnitude hit Haiti was the late 18th century. His reaction to the size of the 2010 disaster isn’t unlike his fellow countrymen.

"I think every Haitian is surprised, because we never had those kinds of things before."

He’s pleased at the swift global reaction, particularly that of his adopted homeland, which has sent two naval ships, eight planes, hundreds of relief workers and committed $135 million in foreign aid.

"I’m not surprised, because Canadians always act this way. I think that’s why I chose to come here," Olibris said, noting he studied for three years in the United States, but decided their northern neighbour was a better fit.

While in the here and now things aren’t looking great for the people of Haiti, Olibris is convinced the country can rebound and get back on its collective feet – sooner, rather than later.

"I’m very positive that things will be maybe even better than it was before. Hopefully Canada will be a leader to co-ordinate what’s supposed to be done after the emergency is over, to continue to rebuild the country. I’m positive that things will be better."