Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Montego Bay and Kingston, Jamaica
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Photos of Eastern Caribbean Nations
Peculiar Photos of the Eastern Caribbean

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI

NOVEMBER 2008


On November 7, 2008, La Promesse College Evangelique collapsed, killing almost 100
people and injuring 162 more. This tragedy was due the faulty construction practices of
Fortin Augustin, the Pentecostal preacher and self-educated civil engineer who built and ran
the school. Afterwards, he was arrested and was charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Every time I read about Haiti, it's inevitably noted that the country is the poorest in the Western Hemisphere. I've been too a lot of poor countries, and I really don't see a radical difference between Haiti's poverty and other nations suffering from the same malady.

That being said (don't you just hate when people say "that being said?"), I have faced far greater difficulties and far greater threats in countries with better GDP's than in Haiti. In fact, I want it on the record that I can't think of a single moment where I felt I was in any kind of danger. On the contrary most people didn't seem to notice I was even there, and the few who did were basically harmless.

My only recommendation is that you exercise caution before taking pictures in areas where there a lot of people around. Some people got annoyed with me for not asking, but once I approached them in a friendly manner, they totally backed off and were more than willing to participate -- except, predictably, the guy selling unidentifiable pills of all shapes, sizes, and colors.

While visiting Haiti, the nation experienced a great tragedy. A school on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince collapsed and killed nearly 100 people. I went to check it out, and got to see the rescue mission up close and personal. Conducting a rescue operation in a country with major infrastructural issues is no easy task, but everyone was doing the best they could, and the existing UN presence certainly made a difference.

I first heard about the school collapse while on a bus from the city center to Petionville, the "upscale" part of town. The first thought that entered my head was, "Man I really hope they don't blame this on the white guy."

There are few if any tourists in Port-au-Prince. Most of the other foreigners at my hotel were contracted by the UN working on various projects. A Haitian artist who stopped by to have a beer and play some pool said I was the first tourist she had seen since the overthrow of Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2004.

One thing I did was conduct an informal survey about Barack Obama. He had recently won the election, and since I was in a solidly black country, I thought it might be a good opportunity to see how Haitians felt about this. My unscientific research concluded the following:

  • Haitians generally think white people are racist
  • Haitians generally think racism is an enormous day-to-day problem in America
  • Haitians generally think that white people did not vote for Obama.
  • Haitians are all pleased Obama won the election
  • Haitians do not expect Mr. Hope and Change to have any impact on their lives


    The National Palace is located in the heart of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital.


    The less-than-sexy Bicentennial Monument in Port-au-Prince
    commemorates 200 years of independence.


    The enormous influence of France even extends to Haiti's vodka supply.
    This Perfect Vodka billboard is above a man selling spare tires.


    Supercuts' Port-au-Prince branch?


    Gingerbread architecture is common in Haiti.


    This colorfully decorated tap-tap is slightly racy in its theme.


    Locals flood the area to catch a glimpse of the rescue at the collapsed La Promesse College.


    An injured girl is released from the Red Cross clinic adjacent to the La Promesse College.


    One of many people who make their living selling small bags
    of cold, filtered water which they carry around on their head.
    They only cost 1 Haitian gourd (approximately 2.5 US cents).


    Many stores have beautifully painted signs on their concrete walls.


    Real street names and street signs can be found in the upper class community of Petionville.


    I wonder if the AA meetings are funny too.


    And you thought the rats in the New York City subway were big!


    Street food: my archnemesis


    I'm 100% certain my twin didn't pay full price at the Gap like I did.