quiet and uneventful

Apart form the assassination of the President, the ensuing power struggle and the ongoing shortage of fuel, its been pretty quiet.  There has been some trouble in the Capital, Port-au-Prince, but whilst extremely sad for the country and its people, I am thankful that the trouble has not spread to the North.  I think the ongoing fuel shortage has kept people from reacting too strongly and the situation getting ‘hot’ as they say here.

Again as we are distanced from Port-au-Prince, the power struggle has also had no real effect on us.  Not sure what news has made it to you, but there is currently a 4-way struggle; the former Prime Minister who had just been stood down, as a new Prime Minister had been elected, but not yet sworn in.  And of course the recently deceased President has had no Parliament to answer to since January last year, because there were no elections after parliament expired.  The defunct Senate have also named their candidate, and finally there was (is) the choice of the opposition parties, who had a pretty tense relationship with the President, challenging his legitimacy (a long story) and declaring himself the rightful President.  Unsurprisingly, he has been very quiet.

You would think that the constitution would help at this point, but there are at least two versions recognised (or disputed), one of which says in such circumstances the chain of command reverts first to the president of the supreme court. However, he died of covid-19 last month.

There is also much talk of UN and US involvement to help stabilise the country, though neither have the appetite, albeit for different reasons.  So Haiti is left to do what Haiti does best really, lurch from power struggle to crisis, through unease and unrest to disputed and chaotic elections, with (properly) organised protests (a timetable is usually published on the web). 

All the while the normal folk suffer, and suffer greatly, but generally with a smile on their face and appreciation for what little they have; Gras à Dieu.

As for me, I am struggling to create a budget for the hospital, I am now at version 10 (albeit with a 10a, a 10b, and a 10c alongside it!).  Though we have not yet cracked it, the process is proceeding remarkably well given the language barriers, the drop-oof in international support (the world over, not just Haiti) and demands of staff here, many of whom have been on short hours in the last 12 months (and some who still are).  We are trying to find enough for a pay rise, after all inflation was running at 16% last year.  At least it means I have a focus whilst the country navigates through its current crisis.

The budget work has me sitting in the Finance Office and I am moved and reminded of how lucky I, and everyone I know, really is when I observe one of the cleaners (Menagers) come in for her payroll.  It’s cash, not a cheque; she has no bank account.  She acknowledges receipt of the cash with an inkpad and thumbprint, on the pay statement that she cannot read.

And to finish on a lighter note I managed to watch the football on Sunday night, though it was afternoon for us.  We headed to a local bar-cum-nightclub, which was rammed, though not exactly like your local Wetherspoons, I counted 14 (including me and the bar-tender).