THE EDITOR, Sir:I AM A 30-year-old entrepreneur working in Haiti. I am a graduate of a United States universtity and have 10 years of experience working and living in the U.S. until I made the decision to move back to Haiti.
I wanted to be part of the solution in helping to build up my country. Therefore I saved as much as I could from my job and became a small businessman in my country. I currently employ five persons who are the breadwinners for their respective families.
The livelihood of my five employees was brutally taken away on the night of Friday, February 27 to Saturday, February 28. The business was attacked and looted by persons claiming to be pro-Aristide supporters.
Upon receiving the news from my night watchman, I immediately contacted a friend who was in the police [force] to go with me down to the business to see what could be saved.
When we arrived at the business (after going through approximately a dozen roadblocks manned by drugged, drunk, armed men; safe only because of being in an "official vehicle") the business was already on fire.
I had saved for six years while in the U.S. and worked for four years building the business. A total of 10 years of my life gone in smoke because, as the men who looted and burned the business affirmed, they had seen me participate in anti-Aristide marches.
True, I had participated in the marches. My participation in the marches was prompted by me being confronted six months earlier on my parents' property by armed men in USGPN (Palace Guard) uniforms.
These men claimed to be descendants of the man from which my parents had bought the property 25 years earlier. They said they had not received part of that money and wanted to make "arrangements". Mind you these men averaged in age of 25-30 years. They padlocked the property and told me that I could not stop them from extorting money from me.
In 1991, Aristide was democratically elected. Members of my family voted for him. We are even related by marriage as one of his cousins is married to mine. His mother has had dinner at my family's house in Florida. However, being elected democratically does not make one a democrat.
My story is just one of many: "Show me your friends, I will tell you who you are."
Be careful of the company you keep.
I am, etc,
JEAN JUDE BEAUMANOIR
judejb@hotmail.com
Petionville, Haiti
Via Go-Jamaica
