Pèpè Education
By Guy S. Antoine
Pèpè education… that's a good term. Pèpè clothing is clothing from abroad, handed sometimes freely as a gesture of charity, but most often paid for at several times the cost since it consists mostly of donations. Clothing that covers your body, but does not at all reflect the local culture. Clothing that sometimes reflect slogans written in a language other than the native one, values different than traditional ones, and which subliminally makes you desire the brands and fashions of a world that is not your own, conditions your mind to seek handouts and look for hope and significance elsewhere, instead of discovering the possibilities that exist locally. In fact, it's clothing that leads you to devalue what is local in favor of what comes from abroad. If the foreigner makes it, it must be better. And if everyone aspires to "be like Mike," why not us?
Substitute the word "education" for "clothing" in the above, and you'll get a coherent picture of the effects of formal education in Haiti on the minds of most who have received it. Show me the formally educated Haitian, and especially one who attended missionary schools, who did not at some point in his life at the very least least, look around and feel trapped by the perceived subhuman development of Haitian Life. What do we see? Poverty, and that's bad. Mendicity, and that's bad. Vodou, and that's bad. Superstitions, and that's bad. Dark skin and "kinky hair", when the literature you've been exposed to speaks plainly of beauty as that of fair skin, blue eyes, and flowing silky blonde hair; when you've been thoroughly indoctrinated in Christianity of which all the icons, images, saints, apostles and their modern counterparts, as well as God her-?-self are presented to you in overwhelmingly Western European traditions. more>>
Édition Hebdomadaire De Haiti En Marche
Radio Mélodie FM
Duo-Citizenship: Get Rid of the "Haitian Citizens only" policy
By Jean-Marie Florestal
If you follow some of the arguments argument regarding Yvon Neptune's eligibility to become Prime Minister, two wrongs make a right.
It is wrong that the Haitian Constitution denies eligibility to the leadership of the country by Haitians who have renounced their nationality. It is also wrong to ask those responsible to uphold the Constitution to blatantly disobey it. While it is true in mathematics that two negatives make a positive, it does not apply in public administration. What is wrong here is a bad law that may deny competent and honest Haitians - who may be the only chance Haiti has from complete collapse - the chance of rescuing the sinking ship that is our country today. God only knows how much those competent and honest Haitians are scarce today.
Most Haitians who left the country to become a diaspora did it with many reservations. Many of them left because of political persecutions. And the majority of the rest left because there were not enough opportunities available to them in the country. Most of them wanted to return. But the worsening conditions of the country make the return always postponed. To take advantage of all the opportunities available to them while living outside of Haiti, they had to adopt the nationality of the host country. While living outside, they acquire knowledge, wealth, and new skills that are essential for Haiti's future. To deny them the right to participate in the rebuilding of the country is self defeating and short-sighted. more>>
Cow Island (Iles A Vaches)
Gorgeous pictures of Haiti. Thanks to Port Morgan, a business consortium in Haiti involved in tourism.
More Haiti Photos
Diaspo-tourism for Haiti?
By Hyppolite Pierre
What if suddenly, the Haitian Government (GOH) decided on a new economic stimulus approach which this time, includes the Diaspora? What if, rather than paying lobbyists to argue their case before Washington and the International Community, the GOH decided for instance, to launch a simple program which they call, Diaspo-Tourism?
They could perhaps try these approaches:
- Have government ministers and officials like consuls, go to Haitian radio stations and television programs like Moment Créole in New York, or stations in Florida, Philadelphia, Boston, Montreal, etc. Those officials could explain the project in simple terms and create the enthusiasm for it.
- Build rudimentary infrastructure like dirt roads so Diaspo tourists can go to and visit places like Citadelle, Bois Caiman, the 365 doors palace, Saut-d'Eau, etc.
- Help peasants (peyzan) transform their meager home or part of it into Bed and Breakfast; teach them through the Health Ministry about health precautions, etc.
- Make a deal with either American Airlines, or some other airline carrier to transport Haitians (or others interested) to come and visit Haiti at a reasonable rate (i.e. less than the $450 round trip average). more>>
