Free Paul Waggoner!

While volunteering in Haiti back in February 2010, I met Little Paul (Paul Waggoner). As soon as our group got inside the hospital, he introduced himself and I liked him right away. I usually don't "click" with people like that. It takes me time. But Little Paul was different. That same night, we sat at the balcony, joked, he let me use his laptop, we added each other on Facebook etc... I still didn't know all the names of those I went with. I still don't. Maybe two...

 Little Paul was simply special. He worked HARD, lived in a tent on the roof of the hospital with all of his possession in his backpack. LP came to Haiti on his own after the earthquake simply because he wanted to help. He didn't want to sit around and wait for organizations to call him up. Although LP has NEVER been to Haiti before that, he found his way there and never really left, except for one or two week.

I found LP in Haiti, I left him there and he had no intentions to leave. LP and I never lost touch. If he doesn't hear from me, he sends a message on Facebook or I call him. As a matter of fact, LP recently met my dad who still lives in Haiti and has a small orphanage there. My dad also liked him instantly, not because he was a "Blan", because my dad worked with missionaries all his life, travels in many states with some. So,  "Blans" don't surprise him or get him excited like that. After meeting LP, he told me "he is such a "cool" guy! He cares for people and don't act like some of them do". After that meeting, They talked on the phone again, and the last conversation between them, Paul was going to get him some books for the kids. But he didn't get to do it because he is now in jail, falsely accused of a bogus, ridiculous crime that he did NOT commit!

LP is charged with kidnapping of a dead child! Back in February LP assisted a father who brought an almost dead child to the hospital, Paul helped him. The kid got to the doctor and died. See the whole story here: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/12/17/haiti.american.jailed/index.html?hpt=T.2 . LP did NOT take this kid, had nothing to do with anything beside helping the dad.

As a Haitian, who met LP, who knows LP and still keep in touch with him, I am outraged by this case! This is pure BS and people trying to make money on someone who was really helping those in need, unlike some others! LP rescued children from very bad situations, who had no one, no name, no one would know they are missing, but he didn't take them. He helped them! Along with Big Paul, his friend and co-founder of their organization, which they founded recently, he has been doing a great job in Haiti (believe me if I say so!) I usually don't endorse organizations, but "The Pauls" were the only ones I tweeted, facebooked about, asking people to donate and support their great work in Haiti. They never asked me to do a thing. I took it upon myself to do so. I stopped tweeting about them after their organization became structured and had its own twitter page. I still endorse their organization, MMRC Global, as one of my favorites that does not waste money on "administrative fees", but despite their great work, they are greatly underfunded.

As a Haitian, I am disgusted with what they are accusing LP of and to see how someone can blatantly lie on someone else like that when he knows that he is innocent! Unless this man is absolutely crazy, clinically insane, it's sick that he is trying to accuse an innocent or trying to get money off of his dead son! I wanted to write this to tell all that LP is an innocent man sitting at the disgusting Penitentiary in Port-au-Prince, for no reason and needs to be released! LP is one man who filled rooms with food for hungry orphans, helped pregnant women, got blood for critically ill people; he personally helped a raped victim for me and my list can go one... LP is an innocent man.

This baby was born prematurely and was not provided an incubator  "because there was none'. So, LP built one for him. he died almost a week later. But LP did what he could. He cried when this little guy died.This is the LP I know.

While sitting on the roof of the hospital, together, Paul once told me "I am not a saint. I have a past. But THIS is what I want to do. I finally know what I was born to do. I enjoy doing this! I'm not sure when I'll leave here." I responded to him "You'll become one of those "Blan Haitians" I will come to your house next time I come to Haiti." Paul's past is not a "revelation" to me. He beat up a pedophile and deserves a prize for it. Not a record (but that's just my opinion). We spoke last week, and he was inviting ME to Haiti for Christmas "You have to come, Charnie. It will be fun!' I couldn't stop laughing, thinking "He did become a Blan Haitian!" I am disgusted that someone can be so sick to frame him like this!

During this ordeal, last time I exchanged emails with Paul while he was incarcerated in a jail before his hearing, I told him "I hope you'll leave when you get out (not adding the "At least for a moment")",  LP's response to me was "I don't want to leave. I have 100 kids that depend on me and what we do for them. I won't be another wolf ticket to them".

Whatever LP did in his past, when I met him, he was a changed man. A man with a big heart! He protected me like he was paid to do it! He passed on going out with his friends one night to stay with me because he didn't trust some guy who was saying certain things to/about me. He sincerely told me that his reaction would be BAD if he came back and found out that he has even touched me (since I was the only one in my group left behind that night)! This is LP. He loves to protect people, especially children and women.


I'm praying for his safe and early release. LP already knows that I have a lot of love for him! Can't wait to hear his voice again as a free man!

Shut Up! Take Your Compliment And Shove it!

An hour ago, I was at a convenience store getting couple of items, while I was inside, my phone rang and I started speaking in Creole with a friend I haven't heard in a while. As I was speaking, this man who was standing behind the counter was staring at me. As I was speaking on the phone, he was trying to get my attention by asking me SLOWLY "Miss, h.o.w. d.o.  y.o.u. s.a.y.  I.  l.o.v.e.  y.o.u.", of course I ignored him, since I was still on the phone. He asked again. "Why do you want to know", I asked. "Well, I wanted to tell you I love you". He proceeded to say "Buh, Miss! How come you smart! You coulda fool me", 
 "Excuse me, what do you mean?"
"Well, in farty years (he means forty), first time I meet a smat (smart) hation (Haitian)"
"Go s...", I wanted to tell him to go suck a nut, but I retain myself.
 "Maybe you should get out more, get off island a little bit. See the world before making your conclusions. As far as I know, Haitians are some of the most intelligent people on this earth. Because some just arrive here and don't speak your language yet, doesn't mean Haitians are stupid."
"Well, miss, I been arong de worl (around the world), I was in de aaamy (army), I been to Santo Domingo..."
"Santo Domingo is not Haiti. Anyway..." and I went about my business. The store owner told me "tell him again. Ignorant people like him need to know". But I didn't think it was necessary to continue because I was losing my cool.

These kind of comments are so common on St Thomas and the thing is, they expect you, the Haitian to say "Thank you". No. you're being disrespectful with your backhanded compliments! When will people realize that these kind of comments are not OK? Just because you make that one exception doesn't mean I will agree with you that all other Haitians, except me, are stupid! this is pure ignorance! I do regret not telling him something REALLY bad but at the same time, I am proud of myself for having self-control.

I should be used to these comments by now, I have been getting them since I moved here over four years ago. When I started dating the person I am still with right now, some family members had an issue with the fact that I was Haitian. When they learn to know me, one of them still had issues with Haitians "except me". She would introduce me to people and add "She is Haitian BUT she is smart. Yeah, very smart girl" but then she would ask me things like "How come ahyou Haitians so dark, mehson!" Or "Why dem people so stchupid! They can't even fill out a western union form and their names so hard to say and dey so retarted dey wouldn't wait for it. Then, I have to be calling stchupid names..." Right in my face. Me, the Haitian.

Then, there was the suspicion that I was with him for a green card! When they learned I had a green card before I even moved here, his cousin boldly asked me to show it to him Of course I asked him to get the *** out of my face, but how disrespectful is that?! And these are black, island people who are always ready to cry RACISM for any little thing or even a look from a white person.


I won't even go over everything I have heard from co-workers and other random ignorant people on the streets of St. Thomas. That same "in-law" person once said "there are no light-skinned Haitians". One day I was watching videos of T-Vice, CaRiMi, she swore I was lying about them being Haitians... One co-worker once told me "you're the first pretty Haitian I've met. I thought all Haitians were ugly". I again told him to get out more because "I'm far from being the prettiest Haitian out there" (really)! When my reaction was the total opposite of what he expected, he was puzzled. Seriously, when you have those kind of retarded, ignorant comments, keep them to yourself. Any Haitian in his/her right mind will NOT say thank you to your "compliment".

So far the worst behaviors and comments I have gotten have been from Black, Caribbean people. I have worked with people who automatically assumed I didn't know anything, that I was stupid etc... Coworkers got very hostile toward me because I'm Haitian and I  was getting higher salary then them. Some said it in my face, especially at that clinic where I was employed for almost a year in the administrative department. I had to work extra hard to prove myself. I was attacked, I was promised "a good beating" by immature pricks, all for no reason! I was only guilty of being Haitian and getting a higher salary, which I deserved!

Needless to say that Haitians who can't speak English and defend themselves like I can go through hell everyday at work. People who look like them but just happen to be more fortunate and speak another language put them through hell and do them some injustice.

I am so tired of this crap!  The same way you feel when you think you are a victim of racism, is the same way I feel when you discriminate against Haitians. You all need to stop it and stop it now! It's not pretty to be ignorant!

Where Are The Jobs?

I have not posted anything on this blog for the simple fact that I was hoping to have something different, something cheery to post about. But I searched, I looked and found nothing. So, I guess I will blog what's on my mind.

We all know that it's been height months since the January 12 earthquake and nothing - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING - has changed. People are still under sheets and tarps; millions in donations, the rubble is not cleared, the reconstruction has not yet started; many fancy meetings later between the "big people" who own the country, nothing concrete yet. I am a hundred percent positive that ten years later, we'll still be talking about the same things. I have no doubts.

The thing that has been bugging me for a while now is the job situation in Haiti. One would think that right now there would be no shortage of jobs for not only qualified Haitian professionals, but any Haitian willing and able to work in Haiti with all of these projects, work waiting to be done... But reality is, young people are applying for jobs but they are not getting hired. Despite presenting all the letters, resumés, qualifications, not even interview! This is so discouraging and infuriating! Especially when some of them are posting links on social media about how they have job openings and looking for applicants, but in reality, it's not true. They are not hiring. They simply have to go through the procedure of posting them.

I personally contacted an organization about a job posting they tweeted months ago. First, I called and spoke with a lady in the HR department. She asked me to email her my cousin's resume, who is very qualified for the job and has the experience required. I immediately called him and he emailed his resume, diplomas, letters and filled out the application online. The lady emailed me saying that she was very pleased with what she saw so far, and will give his application "special consideration" but first he had to show that he is a Christian and is involved in his church by providing a letter from his pastor, since the organization is a Christian organization and one of the requirements was that the applicant must be able to "spread the good news of God" as part of his work. My cousin who happens to be very involved in his church immediately got the letter and waited for the interview. He waited, and waited... We were so confident that he would at least get the interview that was promised to him. But it never happened! I tweeted them, I sent messages... At first, during a phone call, she said "don't worry, we will be calling applicants soon. He is THE FIRST applicant and meets all the requirements. He'll definitely get interviewed". I believed her. But when that email or phone call never came, I contacted her again via email, twitter, no answer. And then the organization simply unfollowed me on twitter and stopped answering any of my emails.

Months later, I checked their website, I saw new openings. I told two people that I know would meet the requirements, they applied but never even got a call. My cousin later got a job with MSF . Last time I spoke to him, he was still with them. I am not sure if he still has the job now, but really hope that he does.

All of this is to show that MANY organizations claiming that they are hiring but can't find qualified people in Haiti, are simply full of it. There is no reason for so many young men and women to be actively looking and applying for jobs but are not even given a chance of an interview. In the mean time, school is about to open in Haiti, everyone has someone who must go to school but has no resources, no money and so far, has no clue what to do or how it will happen. Most schools in Haiti are private, with exorbitant tuition fees and no regulations. They set their own prices when they want and however they want.

I am not going to blame the NGOs for not providing jobs because they are not there to fix anything; they would run out of business if they do. They are there to keep Haiti on foreign aid. This is why they exist; this is why they were created; this is how they make their money and receive praise and glory. I blame those useless leaders who are selling the country piece by piece to anyone with a green dollar. I blame the "President" for not setting any kind of rules on those organizations, demanding that they employ a number of Haitians in order to be established in Haiti. In the meantime, aid workers from some organizations are splurging money they receive to help the people on Dominican prostitutes in Petion Ville, new cars, fancy houses, restaurants, bars, while, just blocks away from them, the people they are supposed to be helping are dying for basic needs.

Wyclef Running For President of Haiti: Keeping An Open Mind

For the past week or two, the web has been buzzing about Wyclef Jean running for President. Personally, I was one of those who said "Wyclef for President" even before the earthquake. But after the earthquake so many articles surfaced about Yelé's books not being correct and him paying his mistress thousands of dollars from Yéle's money. It made me sad to read these articles because I love Wyclef. He is our pride and represents his country around the world! So, it's hard to accept that he would PURPOSELY waste money donated for his people . I still do NOT believe that he would splurge on a mistress with Yéle's money. My opinion. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt.

What I do find strange is how everyone is interested in how Yéle spends its money. I don't disagree with that. BUT why don't I see the same interest in other organizations that used Haiti to collect millions? Especially organizations that grew like mushrooms after January 12, 2010. Yéle existed BEFORE January 12. While I may agree that it's far from being a perfect organization when it comes to how its money is pent, at least I know it was not created because the earthquake looked like an opportunity to its creators. How about the other big organizations that received most of the MILLIONS donated by using pictures of our people suffering, crushed under concrete? If there was the same outrage, and articles about their books, maybe they would actually use those funds on what they received them for.

It's just strange that the ONE organization run by a Haitian that gets some media attention ,gets it for all the wrong reasons! Something is not right with that! When watching reports on Haiti or reading articles from the media giants, you would think that no Haitian is helping, while there are organizations run by Haitians that are doing what they can to help, with very little financial help. They get NO media time because there is no "smoking gun" information to put about them on the internet and no one knows them. It would not be juicy enough. Yéle gets all the attention, but for all the wrong reasons. Makes me wonder....

Now the big news is that Wyclef MAY run for president of Haiti in the next elections. So far they are rumors and people are freaking out already. Why? Some say he is not qualified enough. He doesn't have any political background. Some others say he doesn't speak French or he doesn't speak Creole enough (he is not Haitian enough like Oabama was not Black enough). Some say 'popularity doesn't mean qualification to be a leader" but even in the USA, running for office is about popularity (why didn't McCain win? He clearly had more experience). I even saw a tweet saying he is too ugly.

I understand why some may say he is not politically qualified for the job. But, for as long as I can remember, Haiti has had very politically qualified leaders, but look at where we are today. Even before the earthquake, Haiti was already a mess where money just vanished, the president doesn't care about the people, food prices skyrocket, everyone fix their own prices in any currency that pleases them, parents could not afford to pay their children tuition etc... Parents were giving away their children before the earthquake because they could not afford to raise them. All of this was happening with "politically qualified" people in power. And the earthquake just showed all of us that it's not about diplomas, and which language you speak to do good. Unfortunately, just about all of the heavy politically educated "leaders" of Haiti survived and look at where the people are six months later? Still under sheets, tents with babies, and they are not even able to provide security to them. Women, young girls, as young as 5 years old are getting raped; they are not even smart enough to demand all of the organizations to provide jobs to young Haitians even those with multiple degrees! Proof that diplomas don't make a man patriotic. Once they get paid, they don't care about the population.

Some others are panicking because Wyclef, so far, has shown some signs that he cares about the "little ones". And that won't work for SOME, should he become President. Since he was raised in the United States, he may want to set some standards for workers, for example, or even listen to the people when they talk to him (which never happens in Haiti). Some Haitians WANT Haiti to stay in limbo, so they can be in business and don't pay any taxes, pay less then minimum wage etc... A President who is listening to the people, grew up in the USA and might start doing things the normal way can be panicking to some.

Personally, I don't care that he doesn't have any political background. I think if he surrounds himself with new people, not those who are already there, he MIGHT do well. I think, if Wyclef runs and becomes President of Haiti and remembers how a real country should look like, he can rebuild and restart tourism again. By restarting tourism, jobs will be created for the people and they will start taking care of themselves, instead of begging, risking their lives catching boats to other places or go get lynched in the Dominican Republic. That's just one of the good things I can see coming out of this. So far, NO PRESIDENT has seen the potential of Haiti being a destination for tourists again. They are too busy begging and filling their pockets.

I am not sure how I feel about a potential run of Wyclef for President right now, but i am not against it. I am open to it. If he runs and presents plans that look like they may work for the betterment of Haiti, I'm all for it. Because I am tired of those beggars who have done nothing but making us look like fools to the world. All they have done is thieving and squeezing everything out of the population, selling the country piece by piece to whoever wants some. Next week, we will all know if he will run and if he does, I can't wait to see what he has to offer. Everyone makes mistakes; no one's perfect. If his plans sounds right to me, besides the fact that he is not some broke man who just wants the highest paying position in Haiti, he has my vote.

Why Some of Us, Haitians CAN'T Go To Haiti Permanently or Long term

After the earthquake, I went to Haiti for a week as a volunteer. From the minute I got off the plane, I wasn't myself. After a drive through Port-au-Prince, I couldn't hold my tears. I was depressed from day one. But I was strong enough to stay at the hospital where we were staying for the entire week, instead of going to my mom, dad and only sibling and cry my heart out. I wanted to, I could have gone, but I didn't. I wanted to help anyway I could.

It was busy every day. I saw injuries that I will never forget. I had to watch people getting their fingers and other pieces of their body removed with no anesthesia, although it was one month after the earthquake; I had to hold hands and spend time with women who were in labor for hours until their babies came. They would not let me go eat because they won't understand what they are telling them to do (at least these were happy endings. It was scary, one baby didn't breathe immediately but after a lot of rubbing, she cried). The stench of some injuries are still in my mind. I met some incredible people who left their families to go clean those unbelievable injuries, and help in all kind of other ways and I thank them for their kindness everyday.

But there some others who are always attacking Haitians for not going to live there after the earthquake or help on a long term basis because "it's not their country and they are there doing it, so why can't we, etc...". First let me start by saying it's great that you are there helping. Thank you. But that doesn't give you a right to harass me or make backhanded comments to every Haitian you come across. You being there is your own choice.

Haiti is ALWAYS on my mind. I wish I could be there right at this moment. I would love to go back for even a week and volunteer again! But like MOST Haitians, my hands are tied. I have a family in that same country that has no jobs, no way for anyone to earn a living - Except those who are getting paid from the disaster and/or politicians - And my family is not one of those families. Therefore, I have to stay here, work and support my family. After all they've done to push me where I am today, I can't let them go in line in front of some NGO's door to beg for a bag of rice or let my sister sit at home and not finishing college. In a country where EVERYTHING is priced in U.S. dollar, even though most people get paid in Gourdes, I have to stay here as a back-up.

People are quick to judge without knowing why we, Haitians, don't go for a longer period of time to help in our own country. Some of us simply can't. But from where we are, we can try our best to make an impact in our own ways. Speak up for those who don't have a voice, denounce all of the unfairness that's being done to the people of Haiti and hope that we are heard.

Every Experience is a Learning Experience - Every Exeprience is of Value

Working at that "Secret" place has definitely thought me some valuable lessons and will forever shape my behavior at future workplaces of similar structure, which I hope will never happen again! Below, are few of the lessons I have learned:

#1: NEVER do any favors because "it's a small company and it's OK to do certain favors". NO! Keep it strictly business. Go by the book. For example, DO NOT use your own car, your own gas to run errands for the company, unless you are properly compensated for it or your salary is big enough to do it for free. That so-called "Small Company" is only looking out for its bank account, not yours. At the end of the day, when you need gas, it will come out of your paycheck.

#2: They can't pay you overtime to do THEIR work because they are "tight on funds"? Then, the work can wait until the next day when you are on the clock. DO NOT punch out, and come back to do the company's work that is incomplete due to no fault of yours, because you are trying to "save them money and be a model employee" and because "it's such a small company, you should do some compromises." That same "Small Company" will not look at all of these "compromises" when it's time for them to get rid of you for financial reasons or whatever other reasons it may be. It can be ANY reason. To them, it all about business. Unlike what they usually say "you are an asset for the company", you are nothing but but something that can be replaced when they are "back on their feet".

#3: ALWAYS REMEMBER that your boss is just YOUR BOSS, no matter how "cool" or "friendly" he/she is with you. DO NOT do major sacrifices for him/her, unless you absolutely can or if it won't inconvenience you. To your boss, it's strictly business. It's all about "protecting the asset of the company he/she is responsible for". He/she is not there to protect you. Despite whatever favors you do for him/her or the company, he/she will look at you in the eyes at 4:30PM and tells you "today was your last day. You will be compensated..." and gives you 30 minutes to pack up! No hint, no warning that your job is at risk (they would not decide that one morning, your position is cut. All knew, except you). Maybe that's how it goes in the "professional world" but I would have the decency to tell my employee, if we have such a close professional relationship.

Again, this is a note to self. I will not let this experience tarnish my loyalty to future workplaces. But I will know what to do and what NOT to do. Maybe I will post some more "Lessons" soon. Or maybe I will post some positive things that happened also, although it won't be much. For now, I will leave it at that.

"Every experience is a learning experience. Every time we try something--win or lose--we learn, we grow, we attain more confidence and competence for the next time."