Haiti a ‘hell hole’

Haiti, which looked beautiful and serene from the air, looked like George Street on a Saturday morning as the aircraft approached to land. Buildings were packed close as those in John John, Laventille. on arrival, there was the strong presence of military personnel on the tarmac. One returning Haitian declared: “it looks like the Americans have taken over my country.” In downtown Port-au-Prince, one could feel the tension and virtually see it in the faces of the people as they struggled to get their lives back together yesterday — only the second day of peace in the country. Some were afraid to answer questions. The few who spoke mentioned about rival groups. They asked that they not be photographed for fear of being killed. At one stage there was gunfire, and the taxi in which I was travelling had to divert for fear of being caught in the crossfire. The curfew in Port-au-Prince has been lifted, but there has been no water or electricity for the past two weeks.

The city’s streets are littered with garbage and burnt vehicles. Some 15 US military vehicles rolled by as they headed for the Presidential Palace. At Sans Road, the atmosphere was quite calm as several vendors lined the street. There was also a heavy police presence. People did not want their pictures taken, fearing reprisal from the “Sheramers.” The Sheramers, I was told, were still killing people and were doing whatever they pleased. As one man said “ these lawmen are lawless; they have no regard for anything, or anyone.” For about an hour yesterday I was detained in a room, searched and questioned by personnel who appeared to be Customs Officers. Presenting my media pass did not assist in any way. However, I was rescued by a foreign journalist. The officers told me to go, “but your pass has liquid paper on it.” I owe a debt of gratitude to two men. One named Mesidor, who was my interpreter, and Jack the taxi driver. In the middle of sporadic gunfire in some parts of the capital, the military patrolled, while military aircraft flew overhead. Yesterday was indeed tense and tiresome.