PORT-AU-PRINCE

U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, is adding her voice to the list of U.S. lawmakers concerned about growing gang-related violence in Haiti.

In recent months, gangs have been terrorizing the population, accused of massacring and raping poor Haitians and turning parts of the country into no-go zones. This weekend a police station in the rural Artibonite was attacked after a gang affiliated with a wanted warlord, Arnel Joseph, overpowered police.

Following a massacre in the La Saline neighborhood of Port-au-Prince in November, a bipartisan group of 104 House members called on U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last month to launch an independent investigation into the extrajudicial killings, as well as allegations of human-rights violation by the Haitian National Police during February’s violent protests that shut the country down for 10 days. Haiti’s ambassador in Washington has denied the accusations.

As late as last week, Haiti’s press reported that gangs have continued their attack on La Saline by setting fires to homes. The growing violence comes just months before a United Nations peacekeeping mission is scheduled to permanently end its presence in Haiti after 15 years, to be replaced with a special political mission.

“When we learned about houses being burned down, and the killings that took place, we were appalled and shock,” Waters said during a press conference at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport prior to leaving Haiti on Wednesday evening. “We listened directly to some of the relatives of victims and victims tell us about that.”

Waters, who was not among the signatories on the Pompeo letter, said the more attention brought to La Saline and the violence, the more it will help “to not only get some engagement with this administration here in Haiti to find out how this is happening, why this is happening, what are their plans, but using whatever leverage and power we have to help make it cease because this is not conscionable and not tolerable.”

She noted that the U.S. government “contributes substantially to Haiti,” aid that is very important for the Haitian government.

“We think that when we talk about how we care about Haiti, and why we’re able to contribute the way that we do, and we do not want to see that abused or misused or disregarded, I think that may give us a little leverage,” Waters said, vowing to get other members of Congress engaged.

Waters said her visit to Haiti was the result of an invitation by former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to attend the graduation of medical students at his University of the Aristide Foundation in Tabarre on the outskirts of the capital. She was joined by actor Danny Glover, human rights lawyer and activist Brian Concannon of the Boston-based Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti and radio journalist Margaret Prescod. Prescod’s Los Angeles-based public affairs show, “Sojourner Truth,” recently featured a story on the LaSaline massacre.

While Waters met with U.S. embassy staff and praised their efforts, she did not meet with Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. She did have a great time with Aristide and his family, she noted.

Glover, who accompanied Aristide back to Haiti following seven years in exile in South Africa, said this marked his first visit to Haiti since Aristide’s 2011 return.

Concannon, speaking in Creole, said, “It’s important to have justice so that people are not once again victims.”

Life coach and licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) Jameson Mercier of Mercier Wellness—known as The Haitian Therapist—counsels clients on everything from marital problems to relationship issues to matters related to sexual abuse. Mercier’s job as a therapist is probably two-folds more challenging than that of other professionals in his field, as the majority of his clients are from a community where some often refuse to acknowledge the need to seek professional help.

Presently working on a doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy at Nova Southeastern University (he holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Barry University), Mercier is a sought-after mental health professional in South Florida. Social work and family organizations look to him for his insights into Haitian and Caribbean culture, and clients love to talk to him because he’s able to understand them from an expert’s point of view as well as from a cultural perspective. Mercier hosts a show with his wife Herdyne called “The Power Couple” on Hot 105, a radio station based in Miami. The Miami Herald honored him as “Best in Social Work” in 2011.

How did you get interested in therapy and counseling?

I have always been interested in talking to people and learning about relationships and families. However, there were two key moments that solidified it for me. The first was the passing of my father. I was nine years old at the time and I remember struggling to understand was all this meant. No one was talking to the kids about death and the emotions and no one in my family received any sort of grief counseling. That whole ordeal stuck with me and I remember thinking that people need help with this stuff.

The second thing was working with families in the child welfare system. When I first started as a social worker, I helped families be reunified with their children. It just seemed odd to me that there weren’t any interventions until after something terrible happened. It was then I decided to work with families to help them resolve the stressors that lead to the child abuse and domestic violence.

I’ve read all sorts of commentaries as to why people won’t seek professional help…especially people of color. And about how it has to do with how they are perceived by society….

There are a number of reasons people do not seek professional help. Many people feel they can handle it on their own. Others don’t want people to know they have problems. There are individuals who think therapy is for the weak. For people of color, unless there is something tangible (housing, food, etc.) counseling is a last resort, usually at the urging of the authorities.

Within the Haitian culture, the prevailing idea is that only crazy people need counseling; and even then, the most common intervention within the Haitian community is the church or prayer. So all these things combined make it so that people of color don’t seek professional help. I think a lot of people think that their problems can be taken care of in-house. But how can a person tell whether taking care of things in-house won’t do…To be fair, there are some things that can be resolved in-house, but you must have the tools and skills. If you are stressed or overwhelmed, depending on the severity you may not need to see a professional. It may be crunch time at work due to the launch of a new project. Once the project is over, things go back to normal.

The key thing people should look out for is when there is an impairment to their functioning. This means you can’t sleep or eat. For example, if your alcohol consumption used to be limited to when you were out with friends, but now you need a drink to even get started, its time to call a professional to get to figure out the cause and receive treatment.

In regards to sexual abuse, what do you think the consensus is in the Haitian and other Caribbean communities?

Sexual abuse occurs much more often in the Haitian and other Caribbean communities than most people realize. Within those communities, it is something that is seriously underreported. Similar to sexual abuse in America, the perpetrators are usually family members or someone close to the family. The victims are scared, confused, and don’t want to talk about it. Furthermore, they wouldn’t even know who to talk to. In some instances, the victims don’t realize that what happened to them is abuse until years later.

In immigrant communities where the victims are undocumented, or may not speak the language, they feel they have no options. However, as more information gets out in the community about available resources, there is a shift and things are improving.

What’s been your experience in regards to treating those in the Haitian community about depression and mental health?

In the Haitian community, it is as if there’s no such thing as depression. What you often hear are: Mwen pa pi mal—I’m not any worse. And—N’ap brase—We are hustling/struggling—and Pito nou lèd, nou la—better to be ugly and alive.These are all indicative of a community that is experiencing or has experienced a lot of hardships. My experience of the Haitian community is that they are accustomed to neglecting themselves in exchange for survival and providing for their children and families. You hear the word resilient a lot whenever you talk about Haitians. Haitians in general pride themselves on overcoming obstacles and relying on their faith.

My experience is limited when it comes to treating depression in the Haitian community. I don’t see a lot of Haitians in my office for depression. They don’t stop to find out why they are angry or sad. To consider, even for a moment, that their mental/emotional health my be in jeopardy means that they might be crazy, and that can’t happen.

How important is communication in therapy?

Communication is the lifeline of therapy. During therapy, a lot of talking takes place. It doesn’t have to be pretty, but it is necessary in order to figure out the problems and issues that people are having. Clients sometimes start out reserved and don’t say much, but eventually they open up. Other clients are less than honest, but that’s fine with me because it is relevant information. It says that there is more going on. When I see couples that are having relationship difficulties, the first thing I do is get them talking about the problem. If we talk about them, then we can resolve them.

Would you say that relationship issues…divorces and stuff are a big problem?

This is a difficult question. My simple answer is yes and no. The issues you find in relationships are not big problems. The problem is all the stuff we carry with us into the relationship. Relationships can be difficult. In a marriage where there are children to tend to, finances to manage on a limited income, and sick parents to look after, it gets really difficult. However, not everyone has problems with those challenges. It is only when there are unresolved issues around money, parenting, etc., that things get complicated.

And there’s another big one. Domestic violence…

Let me first say that while the majority of victims of domestic violence are women, men are abused also. Domestic violence is a big problem. Recent statistics show that 1 out of 3 women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Some feel it’s okay because they have an unhealthy sense of what relationships should be like. I recently did a show with Rick Party on HOT 105 with some survivors of domestic violence and they echoed what some the research says.

There are some women who become victims and remain in the relationship because they are seeking to fill a void like love and self-worth. Some victims witnessed their parents in abusive relationship and think that it’s “normal” to be hit by your partner. I’ve heard women and men say that if you’re husband or wife isn’t jealous, then he doesn’t love you. “He beats me because he’s crazy about me”. For other women, it’s because of financial reasons. They have children and feel they are stuck and have nowhere to go.

As far as the abusers go, often times they are just as lost and broken as the victims. They too may have come from dysfunctional and broken homes. They are angry and don’t know how to deal with their anger other than taking it out on someone else. What people need to know is that domestic violence is not okay. Love don’t hurt.

Do you think part of the reason why some won’t seek help, is because they figure that problems are a part of life…that it’s cowards and weaklings who can’t take care of their own problems.

For some people, that’s part of the reason. Depending where you’re from or how you grew up, there is some shame associated with seeking help. For others, seeking help is admitting and accepting that you are a failure and that you’re weak. That is absolutely the wrong way to think about it. It’s no different from seeing a doctor for a check up or a procedure. It’s about keeping you healthy. Some problems we can handle on our own, but then there are those that require professional help.

If you know someone who could use The Haitian Therapist’s services, be sure to refer them to Mercier Wellness, and help them help themselves.

| Click to Visit the Mercier Wellness website |

The Agronomist is a 2003 American documentary directed by Jonathan Demme about Jean Dominique. The documentary follows the life of Dominique, who ran Haiti’s first independent radio station, Radio Haiti-Inter, during multiple repressive regimes. The documentary starts with an interview where Jean Dominique recounts a day when he was able to broadcast gunfire outside Radio Haiti-Inter. –

The Agronomist est un documentaire américain réalisé en 2003 par Jonathan Demme sur Jean Dominique. Le documentaire suit la vie de Dominique, qui dirigeait la première station de radio indépendante d’Haïti, Radio Haiti-Inter, au cours de multiples régimes répressifs. Le documentaire commence par une interview où Jean Dominique relate une journée au cours de laquelle il a pu diffuser des coups de feu devant Radio Haiti-Inter. –

Agwonòm la se yon dokimantè Ameriken 2003 ki te dirije pa Jonatan Demme sou Jean Dominique. Dokimantè a swiv lavi Dominique, ki te fè premye estasyon radyo endepandan Ayiti, Radyo Ayiti-Inter, pandan plizyè rejim represif. Dokimantè sa a kòmanse avèk yon entèvyou kote Jean Dominique rakonte yon jou lè li te kapab difize bal deyò deyò Radio Haiti-Inter. . . . . . . .

#haiti #hayti #ayiti #jeandominique #theagronomist #agrominist #radiohaitiinter #liberté #freedom #droits #rights #freedomofspeech #gunshot #shots #violence #american #ronaldreagan #jonathandemme

On April 3, 1986, more than 30,000 women took to the streets of Port-au-Prince in a peaceful protest organized by over 15 different groups. “It was a revolt against exclusion. The country was being remade and we didn’t want it to be remade without us”. (conversation with Myriam Merlet, Enfofanm, March 17, 1999). The April 3 anniversary is recalled each year and has been proposed as a national women’s day since 1996.
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Le 3 avril 1986, plus de 30 000 femmes sont descendues dans les rues de Port-au-Prince lors d’une manifestation pacifique organisée par plus d’une quinzaine de groupes différents. «C’était une révolte contre l’exclusion. Le pays était en train d’être refait et nous ne voulions pas le faire sans nous ». (conversation avec Myriam Merlet, Enfofanm, 17 mars 1999). L’anniversaire du 3 avril est rappelé chaque année et est proposé comme journée nationale de la femme depuis 1996.
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3 avril 1986, plis pase 30,000 fanm te pran lari nan Pòtoprens nan yon pwotestasyon pasifik òganize pa plis pase 15 gwoup diferan. “Se te yon revòlt kont eksklizyon. Peyi a te refè, faim yo pa t ‘vle li te refè san yo ”. (konvèsasyon avèk Myriam Merlet, Enfofanm, 17 Mas 1999). Anivèsè 3 avril la raple chak ane e li te pwopoze kòm yon jou nasyonal pou fanm ayisyèn depi 1996.
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#haiti #hayti #femmes #women #protest #april3 #3april #3avril #1986 #1996 #daniellemagloire #blackwomen #haitianwomen #abuse #istwa #istwa1804 #fanm #espwa #fanmfo #fanmvanyan #enfofanm #exclusion #conversation #feminisme #feministe #discrimination #society #violence #violence #vyolans #revendication

Here are some very EXCLUSIVE footage of that historical night of Feb. 7th 1986, the night of the departure of Jean-Claude DUVALIER, his family and a few members of his political regime fled the country! 🎥🇭🇹
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#duvalier #1986 #february #fevrier #footage #exclusive #dictatorship #regime #politics #political #tonton #boogeyman #violence #haiti #ayiti #haiti1804 #1804 #istwa1804 #pap #gouvernment #escape #babydoc