9,996,731 people live in Haiti, roughly 3.14% of the US population. The majority are nominal Roman Catholic but practice voodoo, an amalgam of Catholicism and west African animism and black magic. 53.4% of the population live in urban areas, 2.21 million in the sprawling capital of Port au Prince. 250,000 folks live in the town of Port de Paix, on the north coast, where i did some volunteer work for 3 weeks. According to the CIA site, the main economy in that town today is based on smuggling trade with Miami. The country relies on foreign remittances for 20% of GDP, another 20% coming from the apparel industry. 20% depend on subsistence small scale agriculture. They are just beginning to recover from the devastating magnitude 7 earthquake in 2010.
Rice and beans are the staple diet. They have truly excellent home roasted coffee and local rum. When we were there, in the 70's, people and animals were extremely malnourished due to severe drought. There were no cats or dogs on the streets, since they had all been eaten!
It is noteworthy that Haiti is the only nation founded by a successful slave rebellion, which took place from 1791 to 1804.
When it was more stable, under "Papa Doc" Duvalier, there was a tiny bit of elite tourism, staying at places like the Grand Hotel Olafson, the inspiration for Graham Greene's novel "The Comedians." My wife and I stayed one night there on our way out of the country in the 7O's, in the Marlon Brando suite. It was quite a contrast to our accommodations in Port de Paix, where we finally had to move into the hospital for hygiene and food reasons.
Grand Hotel Olafson
The women are very adept at carrying loads on their heads. This young women helpfully grabbed my briefcase as we were heading down the mountain.
Local young lady carrying my
briefcase with heavy medical equipment.
Rice and beans are the staple diet. They have truly excellent home roasted coffee and local rum. When we were there, in the 70's, people and animals were extremely malnourished due to severe drought. There were no cats or dogs on the streets, since they had all been eaten!
It is noteworthy that Haiti is the only nation founded by a successful slave rebellion, which took place from 1791 to 1804.
When it was more stable, under "Papa Doc" Duvalier, there was a tiny bit of elite tourism, staying at places like the Grand Hotel Olafson, the inspiration for Graham Greene's novel "The Comedians." My wife and I stayed one night there on our way out of the country in the 7O's, in the Marlon Brando suite. It was quite a contrast to our accommodations in Port de Paix, where we finally had to move into the hospital for hygiene and food reasons.
The women are very adept at carrying loads on their heads. This young women helpfully grabbed my briefcase as we were heading down the mountain.
briefcase with heavy medical equipment.
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