Haiti

The Haitian people were wonderful, unfortunately they live in country that is among the poorest in the world. The area that I traveled to was among the wealthiest of this very poor nation. My wish for the Haitian people is that their future is much brighter then their recent past.

The native Arawak Amerindians - who inhabited the island of Hispaniola when it was discovered by Columbus in 1492 - were virtually annihilated by Spanish settlers within 25 years. In the early 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola, and in 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of the island - Haiti. The French colony, based on forestry and sugar-related industries, became one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean, but only through the heavy importation of African slaves and considerable environmental degradation. In the late 18th century, Haiti's nearly half million slaves revolted under Toussaint L'OUVERTURE and after a prolonged struggle, became the first black republic to declare its independence in 1804. Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history. It is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. (cia factbook)

Labadee, Summer of 2005


Haitian Dancers


Relaxing Near Cap-Haitien


Haitian Fishermen


The Town of Labadee