My Latest Dispatch From Haiti

26 January 2010

Beginning at 6:52 A.M.:

Good Morning! RED ZONE/GREEN ZONE still seems to be an issue when getting aid to different neighborhoods.

All Haitians are EQUAL. Some Haitians are more EQUAL than others.

I'm hearing rumors that Carrefour Feuille is not receiving the international attention warranted by the destruction there.

Drove in a car yesterday 4 the first time. Saw more from the car but you don't FEEL THE PEOPLE.You don't get a sense of the people...Like TV.

My son flies back to college tomorrow. He didn't want to abandon us. Missed a week of school. We told him it's time to go.

What happened to money from 6 years of devastation. Big Black Hole. Go visit Gonaives if u don't believe me.We need new people involved, NOW.

Has anyone ever heard of an audit? Historically, devastation funds don't go where they're supposed to. What's the difference this time?

2009 was the YEAR of FRAUD in Haiti.

If Haiti is part of IMF auditing system, then why is no one in JAIL?

Some people are just showing up and looking for ways to help "on the ground".

Don't know what advice to give.

It's not recovery if it's embedded in FRAUD and CORRUPTION.Did you see those elections last year? Internat. Comm. 100% approve.

Going to try and find a bank today. The ones in this neighborhood have crumbled...

I hear the long lines aren't at the banks; the lines are at the money transfer places.I'll find out soon.

The Central Bank isn't open yet so things aren't really functioning money wise. Long lines at Cam Transfer and Western Union.

To drive around the whole city of PauP is too unbelievable. Destruction everywhere. Found an open Sogebank at Delmas 48.

People are asking me about donations. I recommend:Gheskio, Fonkoze, Lambi Fund and Red Cross.Google them for more info.

Visa and other credit cards are not functioning in Haiti yet. Maybe by next week.

The guards at the palace are eating food from USAID.

I had this awful feeling in the pit of my stomach while driving around today.

The devastation is too much to take in at once.

If the Palace doesn't have food, what's that tell you about every one else?

Folks are telling me the Dominicans are doing a great job at water/food distribution as well as hot meals; also giving big bags of rice.

I haven't seen any Haitian Govt presence since day 1. Today I drove around town and didn't see a traffic cop or a clean up crew. Nothing.

I guess the Haitian Govt is too busy raising money for themselves to help around town...

Considering amount of AID allocated 2 Gonaives during last 6 years for disaster relief,considering how much relief;we got problems.

The UN was becoming part of the problem.Never said anything about disappearing AID and approved fraudulent elections.

We're living day to day trying to supply world press with internet, food, drink, water and mattresses. Found food for Haitians. That's Good.

I've been in the RED ZONE for most of the decade. I've had cops dressed in black with ski masks try and freak out my guests.

I've had no news on the libraries or Archives Nationale.

There's a pretty heavy-duty PR campaign against African based religions as well as Afro Caribbean religions; KNOW YOUR ROOTS.

Gheskio may be the first AIDS research organization in the world and is solidly backed by Cornell University. Exception proves the rule.

I hear 13,000 US troops on the island but I only saw two sand colored jeeps today as I drove around town. Indecision??

It almost rained tonight. Light sprinkles. It seems so quiet now. I'm going to try and find some tents for some of my staff and band tomorrow

I hope the Haitian people and their allies can figure out a way to get this situation under control. So much to do...Time to say Good Night

Signing out, 1:30 A.M. -- Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

 

Follow Richard Morse on Twitter: www.twitter.com/RAMhaiti

Comments

[rolfpalm]

08:22 AM on 01/29/2010

HI Richard Morse, I'm Rolf Palm, German writer and journalist, stayed at the Oloffson (with my wife) a couple of years ago, boughzt some "Fuji" paintings (hanging on my study wall since then), contacted Graham Greene on your behalf (he lived in nearby Antibes then) and a forwarded a letter from to you. But even if you don't remember me, I wish to let you know that my thoughts were wirth you all the time tehese last days and I'm happy I found your blogs and twitters finally today. Gla dto learn that you and family are ok. Would like to know how the Oloffson survived the quake. Deeply moved by account how you lived through the quake. Was the TV surfing through towards you the one you always had on the bar running Graham's Comedians all the time? I understand if right now you got other things an you mind than to reply to this, but would appreciate a reply whenever you feel like it and maybe tell me in what ever way I could help. Good luck. Rolf.

[dan969]

05:43 PM on 01/28/2010

Thank you Richard for keeping us informed. Your comments are objective. You are living Haiti and have a great knowledge of the culture, I think to some extent much more than me who lived there the first 19 years of my life and others who are still there, The corruption in Haiti needs to stop, and the organizations that are giving so much money to Haiti have to make sure that it doesn't end up on some foreign banks' accounts. There are so many great people , foreigners and poor and rich Haitians, working as volunteers now.
I have a friend who lost a sibling in the earthquake and despite his terrible loss ,has been digging through the rubbles with his hands to save people. If this money is not used properly to help the right people, this will kill the hopes of so many Haitians , volunteers will leave and this country will simply die because this egocentrism of so many.
Please keep the news coming to open the eyes of everyone abroad. Past and current governments are responsible for the state that the country is in. We need more people like you on the ground. I hope that this tragedy will not stop you from playing with your band. Music is a sure way to make us forget this great sadness that we feel now.

[Tom McNalley]

04:40 PM on 01/28/2010

Thank you for your reports, Richard. Because of you, many people in the states are realizing the extent to which politics and money are players in who lives and who dies in Haiti. Keep it coming!