Security

Now that the rain has stopped for a while and I have internet again, I can finally get around to writing this post.

The news about Haiti that seems to make its way to Canada tends to focus around slum violence, kidnapping of foreigners, and UN peacekeeper involvement. However, while security is still obviously a concern for Haiti, the situation is not as grim as it is sometimes portrayed to be. Kidnappings are down right now, and violence in general is less right now than it has been. Of course, security is still a big business in Haiti, and both the guest house and my office in Port-au-Prince have private armed guards on duty 24 hours a day. Generally, the guards sit around the gates holding their guns on their laps and listening to soccer matches on the radio.

However, even with all the security at the guest house and at the office, it's considered safe for foreigners to go almost anywhere during the day (except for maybe Cite Soleil, unless you have a local contact). I generally travel to and from work in the open back of the guest house pick-up truck (of course, that raises questions about a different kind of personal security, but anyway...). Basically, traveling in Port-au-Prince requires the same security caution that any large city requires, particularly a large city in which you stand out as an obvious visitor. That being said, I haven't traveled around Port-au-Prince on my own but have always gone in a private vehicle with either guest house or pcH people.

In the country however, security is much less of an issue. pcH's house/offices in the rural areas don't require security beyond some padlocks for when they're not in the community. In fact, compared with Jamaica, Haiti seems to have much less petty crime. In Jamaica, if I set something down and turned my back there was a good chance that it wouldn't be there when I turned around again. In Haiti, particularly rural Haiti, things don't seem to "disappear" in the same way. Also, there's not a lot of harassment for foreigners; while I attract curious attention in the countryside, in the city people barely look my way.

The presence of the UN here in Haiti is quite controversial among Haitians. I asked some people what the UN do here exactly. They laughed, and said that they drive around in white trucks, stand around on corners, eat a lot, and go to the beach. Clearly, a lot of money is being spent on keeping the UN here, money that many Haitians think could be put to better use.
Personally, seeing trucks full of soldiers in full battle gear holding guns as they drive through the streets of Port-au-Prince makes me feel more insecure than secure.

As far as health security goes, a lot of people have been sick in Port-au-Prince lately, including quite a few people at the guest house and among the pcH staff. I haven't shown any signs of getting sick, but Siliene, the wife of the manager here has been giving me fresh passionfruit juice every evening as a preventative medication. I can't complain.

My summary of the security situation in Haiti:
Not as bad as the news reports make it sound, stick with local contacts who know the language and the community and you'll be fine.