2005 Haiti Humanitarian Trip

May 3, 2005 - Update

2005-05-03T09:45:00.000-07:00

Greetings,

First time I've been able to get to the net since I communicated with you all last week. Thank many of you for your positive thoughts--still haven't receive much in the way of donations. If HAM is unable to secure $3,700 for either of the containers--all of this work and money spent will be in vain. Every day $20 is added to the container in PAP and $30 to the one in O'Cap. The sad part is people are starving while tons of goods are being held ransom in various ports around the country by the interim government. The officials are asking in excess of $3,000 for each container.

Instructions are the same--to send money to HAM in Haiti send to Valerie Michaud via Western Union. The money will be available within 15 minutes of sending.
So much is happening:

Containers

2005-04-30T09:51:00.000-07:00

Absolutely no headway being made on the containers at this point. Everyone we've enlisted to help to date, has asked additional monies to make things happen. Intend to go to O'Cap this weekend to secure monies HAM sent earlier or container--preferably the container. Will keep you informed.

Will send other information about the voting issue and kidnapping issues.

I can be reached at 011-509-411-0672. You may have to try several times to get through...just don't give up. Please visit our website for future updates.

Thank you very much for the inteviews HAM did last week in Los Angeles. I am open to doing more...

Thank all of you for your prayers.
Mawiyah Duperval

April 30, 2005

2005-04-30T09:50:00.000-07:00

Yvon Neptune reported near death. People fear rioting. Word is he has already passed and the government is trying to keep it quiet. Should this happen, Virginia will be coming back to the States immediately.

The fiance of a friend of ours and her mother were kidnapped. Her family has several businesses downtown. The mother was released after a few hours in order to pull together the ransom money. Once paid the daughter was released--but not after being intimidated with guns, blindfolded, and physically abused by the kidnappers. We went by to see the mother and daughter yesterday--both are as well as can be expected. They courageously returned to the store this morning. There are many reports of the same people being kidnapped more than once, we we pray this is not the case with them.

Arrival in Haiti

2005-04-28T09:53:00.000-07:00

Greetings,

Virginia and I arrived safely yesterday in Ayiti. To our dismay, we came in the middle of a Lavalas demonstration. Later that night on the news we saw where dozens of people had been shot and killed by Haitian police under the auspices of the interim government. There is a news program that comes on every night called Gade Jan Li Ye A - Look at How It Is. They have been singled out because of the content of their news commentary. Recently their format was changed and there is no editorial, no comment, no talking...all they do is show the news.

You don't know how powerful a statement is made when you see two men loading dead body after dead body into the back of a truck. Words were not necessary...

Unfortunately, the cell phone we have won't work here. One of our friends is letting us use his phone...the number is 011.509.411.0672. Feel free to call--especially if money is sent so we know when to pick it up. The economic situation here is worse than I thought. Those of you who are sending donations via Western Union, thanks. The people we're staying with, everyone here is suffering from a lack of basic resources.

We're getting ready to check on the container in PAP--will let you know what's happening.
Will be checking email periodically. Had no electricity yesterday and just found a cybercafe where I can sign in. Won't leave for Cap Haitian until the weekend. Will keep you posted.

Mawiyah Duperval & Virginia Grant

April 27, 2005

2005-04-27T09:49:00.000-07:00

Arrived in Haiti during a Lavalas manifestation (demonstration). What I've discovered since then is that several thousand people gathered for the peaceful demonstration were all considered pick pockets and thieves by the police. Thus, this was justification for shooting the demonstrators--several died immediately and several more a few days later. Reports of the injured are varied.

Teacher was kidnapped and tortured. Hundreds of school children protested. Teacher was released after ransom was paid.