The Pearl of the Antilles

THIS IS A COMMENTARY FOR RADIO I WROTE IN 2004 ABOUT HAITI. I THINK MOST OF IT IS STILL APPLICABLE NOW, I WISH I COULD HAVE POSTED THE ACTUAL AUDIO,WITH THE SOUND EFFECTS.

The Pearl of the Antilles has been devalued,
The country that once brought France its greatest riches now staggers,
her back bent with shame as many watch and wonder why she even bothers to try to stand,
But now it's time to stop watching and hold out a hand,
To help to strengthen bones which have suffered years of arthritic pains,

Haiti, a country that spent most of its youth fighting for the rights of black people in the Western Hemisphere,
A country that gave many others in the Caribbean the inspiration to fight for freedom and stood as testimony that that freedom could be had,
Such a country cannot be allowed to be brought to her knees, her significance in history is too great for bystanders to watch her disintegrate.
CARICOM must intervene in whatever way possible,
What is the significance of CARICOM if it cannot help its members in a time of need,
What of being our brothers' keeper?

A country which rendered help to so many other Caribbean countries in the fight against slavery and colonialism cannot be ignored,
The fact is that, at this point, without outside help to start restoring Haiti from the core, Haiti will continue to struggle and fail at restoring order,
The interim government cannot restore order to Haiti,

Haiti has been affected by too many disasters which are not her own doing,
Hurricanes, disease, economic and political turmoil, the recent flooding in Gonaives, which left thousands homeless have been part of the bitter portion given Haiti.
Haiti is not capable at the moment of pulling herself up by her own bootstraps,because she has taken so much battering that even with the will, she cannot find a way.

Her neighbours, friends, brothers and sisters, must help her find that way,
taking in Haitian refugees may seem like a friendly and helpful gesture,
But who will continue to take in boatfuls of refugees?
Can this be done for Haiti's more than eight million population?
A different approach must be taken.

Haiti has the will, she still has the fighting spirit,
She is only in need of health care to sooth her aching, hurting body,
she needs food for strength and good sound advice to help her on the path to restoration.

What Haiti doesn't need is another military invasion and the use of force,
show her love, and stretch a helping hand.
It is being abandoned that has helped to perpetuate her problems,
Embargoes have been her fate, no one has wanted to associate themselves with her,
She was alone in her battle for freedom, has been alone in trying to maintain it, even in the face of major hardships.

Haiti is tired of being alone,
she needs friends that will step forward to help polish her and restore her to her former glory as the Pearl of the Antilles.