By Sharon Philogene
It was September 2011 and I was back in a classroom at a high school on the island after a three-year hiatus.
The class scheduled was Literature and as is my custom, I call on every student to read. This is one way I assess the reading ability of those in my charge, correct pronunciation, intonation and the like. “Jean,” I called, and the class erupted in laughter. I was thrown off kilter because I seemed to have missed the joke.
“What’s the joke?” I questioned.
“Miss, mister is a Haitian!”
For a moment I was perplexed. This was a young man with whom I had been communicating in English. Did I know he was Haitian? Yes. Had I detected a foreign accent? Yes, but it had not interfered with communication. This young man was a member of the school’s football team and his nationality had not been an issue when he scored goals and contributed to the team’s win. I reckon, this was a teachable moment! Hadn’t I been teaching before? Yes, but it was time for a new lesson. I allowed the young man to read as all the others students had, and when he was finished, I asked whether there was anyone who had not understood what he had read, whether the words were unfamiliar to them, and whether they were now clear that it was possible for “a Haitian” to read English. This is, but one example of the overt prejudice often on display where Haitians students are concerned. I won’t point out the many other situations I deal with frequently in the classroom where “mister is a Haitian” is often used to mock students of Haitian descent and often, to also explain the unsavoury behaviour of any other student in general- much to my dismay. It is as if any behaviour that is deemed questionable must be done by someone of Haitian descent.
Growing up, I often heard people being referred to as having “memoire poule”. I later found out that it meant having a short memory. I never delved into trying to find out how it was deduced that fowls have short memories, but I surmise that this may have come about through observation of their behaviour. If such is the case, then it appears that this diagnosis of “memoire poule” is one which deserves urgent attention because at least in Dominica, it breeds a level of intolerance that does not augur well for healthy living.
Now, back to the lesson. Once I had ascertained that everyone had understood the Haitian student, I proceeded to ask the students, “How many of you have family members living and working in other countries?” Many hands were raised. I didn’t have to ask that question to know the answer because we know to a large extent that many lives in Dominica are being sustained as a result of remittances and barrels, but the point had to be made. The follow up question, “Why are your family members working overseas? Well, you can guess the responses. In short, everyone was seeking a greener pasture.
The influx of Haitian Nationals on the island is a concern for many Dominicans just as the influx of Dominicans to Guadeloupe, Martinique and other Caribbean islands like Antigua and St. Martin/Maarten in the past was a problem for the French, and nationals of these other islands where Dominicans went in droves in search of greener pastures. If we are in tune with world affairs, we will realize that migration is the norm all over the world. People move to other countries for educational pursuits, to join their spouses, for employment opportunities, in short for better lives. Migration is a major issue around the world, especially for the citizens of countries where living conditions are deemed attractive. Very often, the citizens of countries where migrants flock fear that their lives will be disrupted and often, it is. Yet, the alternative is to deny them the opportunity to survive. In some instances, they trickle in but in others, the situation is alarming as large numbers of people flee lands wrought by political conflicts, wars of varying kinds, economic depressions and other conditions which make life unbearable. Often, when large groups of people flee their countries, it is because they have no other choice. Like the Dominicans who left in years past, these individuals are seeking greener pastures. They want to feed their children and take care of their families they left behind. Many make sacrifices and some gamble the last dollar they own in the hope that at the end of the journey, there will be a glimmer of hope. Over the years, I have seen small groups of Taiwanese, Chinese, Dominicans from the Republic and Haitians take up residence on the island. Some have stayed while some have moved on; Dominica served as a mere transit point. Today, the land is teeming with Haitian nationals. Ironically, while Dominicans are leaving, they are coming in. Why? Because for them, Dominica is relatively safe, it is a land of possibilities; for some on the island, however, it is a land which can test the “fittest” of its intellectual and physical population.
I remember flying back to the island in the summer of 2011 after having been gone for three years. There is a level of excitement that usually envelopes me whenever I am returning to this land that I love. As the aircraft inches closer to the land, the appeal of the greenery, the reddish or copper colour rockface in the Marigot area, the froth left by the waves as they beat against whatever is on the shore, the blue of the water all lend themselves to the infusion of this excitement, but we all know that returning to Dominica can also evoke mixed feelings and such was the case on that day in August of 2011. When the pilot announced that he was making his approach to the island, I saw nothing; it was as if someone had placed a shroud over the land. I remember the plane circling for a while before the runway was finally visible enough to enable landing. It was at that time that I thought, “Is this weather condition the harbinger of the real Dominica?” It was as if this approach was a reminder that all is not what it seems. That the beauty of the island is a perfect facade for the real Dominica where opportunities are limited, and the competition for these opportunities keep growing, and often, one must be a magician to stretch resources.
Why then do Haitians flock here if such is the case, because even then, Life in Dominica is much better than where they came from. Life is a struggle everywhere, but when people run in droves to a country where the living is not easy, where the topography challenges its development, where most probably they will not be accepted, where they may not get a job, the push factors in their country must be greater than the pull factors. I do understand the resentment that envelope Dominicans when they see Haitians at work on construction sites, in the markets, and in the long lines at the money bureaus sending money back home, but we must also consider that we are in the same lines too, more often than not, collecting money sent to us from family members who went in search of better opportunities in other lands, and who we hope are not facing the type of mockery and unsavoury comments that we dish out to those who have migrated to our shores. The “I can’t stand these people comments” and many others would be useless to express here. We know them.
We have seen the disrespect, hate and accompanying harm that intolerance breeds around the world where migrants have been forced to make their homes. We must protect our land, and the rights and privileges of its citizens, but we should not cast aside our humanity while doing so. I drive to work in the mornings, and I see young Haitian men with their knapsacks on their way to work, or to seek work, or whatever else they may be off to do. I see many on the vans of farmers heading to the gardens in the heights of Mero. I drive through Newtown, and Virgin Lane in Roseau and see young men sitting by the road idly spectating. I can only assume that they will take up work later or that they don’t care to work. In local parlance, “their bread must be buttered’. I will add -on both sides. I guess the Haitians are still seeking the bread to be buttered. We cannot deny the contributions that the Haitian population is making to the Dominican society. Many are working the farmlands that many of our young people don’t want to work; we need only listen to information coming out of certain areas in the US regarding Mexican migrants working the farms to realize that we are not alone in this situation. There are farmers in Dominica who don’t want their children to be farmers because of the hard work and precarious nature of farming as a main source of income. We need only to consider the set- backs farmers encounter as a result of nature’s unpredictability. Haitians are the security officers, gardeners, house keepers, etc. Jobs that many young persons will not do willingly especially since many now have access to secondary education and set their sight on college or university as the next step and the step out of Dominica – for good. We cannot fault them; we can only wish them well. The Haitians are the vendors at the market creating competition and ensuring that we can stretch our dollars. Yes, they are earning money on the island, but they pay rent, utility bills, shop at the supermarkets and few shops on the island, so they contribute to the economy of the country.
I think back to the mockery often made of Haitians and especially of what I have witnessed in the classroom, and since children live what they learn, I can only imagine the nature of the conversations that they are privy to, or part of at home and in their communities. The Haitians are not our enemies, we are our biggest enemies when we fail to understand that life is about survival and competition and that we are to prepare for the competition. We should also prepare our children for the real world by educating them factually, so that emotions do not cloud reality. Let us not forget how we were treated by our neighbours in Martinique, Guadeloupe and other islands for years. Let us not forget that there are Dominicans in other countries today, who hope they won’t be forced to return to Dominica as a result of government policies in those countries, as many have not yet accomplished the goals they set off to. Let us not forget the words uttered by John Bradford, “There, but for the grace of God, go I”. The Haitians are but one group of migrants fleeing their lands; turn on your televisions and look at the news.
Migrants are all over the world; many are in refugee camps waiting to be resettled- lives in transition. The lashing of Hurricane Maria and the long lines at the Woodbridge Bay Port a mere two years ago -Dominicans fleeing in droves-should remind us that that the tide can turn at any time in a man’s life. Tomorrow, we might be ‘these people’ in another man’s land.
As for me, I left Dominica at my tender age, that was in 1974, my destination was Toronto, Canada. That length of time makes me more Canadian than I am Dominican–I mean that I have lived in Toronto twice the age that I was when lived in Dominica.
I have learned to love Toronto just as I love Dominica, where my navel is buried. That is why I am feeling a bit guilty to think that I want to leave a country that made me her own as a citizen –and for every service–but I don’t want my Life in the body to end in Toronto; I want to return to my homeland.
And that desire will not leave my mind, neither do I want it to. But when the plan is ripe I will be sure that I don’t return home to depend on no one but what Canada has given to me –my desire is to contribute to the economy of Dominica, not depend on it–God’s Will be done!
Every word in the article touched me to the core. Great job Ms. Philogene
Thank you Sharon for this contribution…We have not been taught about Haiti’s contribution in culture and economy and the colonial history of economic blockade, ransom and pillage that halted this emerging regional powerhouse..all in retaliation for Haiti daring to seize its political independence from European colonization.
The Haitian community’s contribution to our economy is considerable and efforts to capture and measure this would be good.
If we all had been better educated about Haiti’s rightful place in history and the common threads of the experience of the African diaspora in this hemisphere our Haitian community would be held with higher regard..
Can we look ahead to promoting educational and entertainment activities in observance of Haiti-Dominica friendship Day on the national calendar of events?
A well written piece. As far as I am aware while we have a low crime rate, Hatians do not appear to be contributing to criminal activity in Dominica, which is more than can be said for some Dominicans in Guadeloupe.. over the years.
People are blindly giving this accolades, to be honest this is well written if anything.
Haitians are an overall negative to our country, from their remittances to Haiti which is draining Dca from much needed money circulation to their voodoo religion. Dont act like all immigrants are the some. Dominica is suffering from brain drain where our best and brightest leave in droves to develop other people lands. Haitians? Most arrivals here are illiterate (no high school education) and dont speak english. They have no interest in Dca, their intent is to use us as a transition point.
They are more fortunate in some ways than locals, because local landowners lease them lands that they would never lease to other local.
I see no net benefit to having haitians here, they dont have money to invest in businesses, send home most of their income so more money leaves than comes in, they worsen the local unemployment situation here and dont bring in no unique skills or talents.
I am sorry but , with all due respect, you are beyond wrong in so many ways.. First of all the one quality that the Haitian population bring with them, regardless of educational status, is a work ethic that , in general, is much better than is found in the local population. As an employer , that, beyond any ‘talent’ is what I need. I know of many many Haitians here who are college and university educated but because of language barriers and naked prejudice can only pick up construction or farming work. If we were smarter we would look to capture some of those educational skills and harness them for our common good. Instead we label them all as ‘voodooists’ when our main religion here has a sordid record of child abuse. AS for the money they send home to their families worse of than our own, I say more power to them. They create competition in the labour market which leads to more efficient and productive workforce. Believe me when I tell you … the glass is more than half full.
This ‘work ethic’ you mention isn’t unique to Haitians, but normal to all immigrants. The same is said of Dominican migrants overseas. You think these same Haitians work as hard for another Haitian to help develop their own country? Then why are they here.
‘I know of many many Haitians here who are college and university educated’ Really? don’t make me laugh. Infact, i’m worried that you are capable of easily being scammed. You know of the high levels of corruption in Haiti? for the right price, you can get top honors from the best College in haiti even though you’ve never been to Haiti. Any college educated Haitian is literally under 1 in 100, ~22% ENTER high school (not graduate), literacy is 60%.
I think the common theme is to make positive emotional responses but I’m spitting straight facts. Most people who employ Haitians dont have them for 4 months or more: partly cuz they collected enough money to move on, but mainly cuz they’re not worth the money paid.
As usual … take your opinion and make fact out of it … When I say I know many college educated Haitians , I mean exactly that. Testing whether someone has a college education or not if you are an employer is recruitment 101. This discussion would be more profitable to you to address issues rather than question my prowess at this or dismiss fact based counter arguments as ’emotional’. Questioning Haitians employment longevity when the vast majority of them are employed in construction projects (which are short term by their very nature) or agriculture (which is seasonal) is just silly. Haitians I have employed (with the odd exception) been more than worth the money. their morbidity rates are very low , attitude exemplary and ambitious for better and more permanent work. It is the more tenacious ones that make it here as with any migrant population. .. your opening paragraph is very correct and rather disproves the rest of your post , to be frank.
“send home most of their income so more money leaves than comes in”
That’s not what happens. By working here they create value here. Some of that value stays with their employer (otherwise they’d never get hired in the first place). Some of what they receive as wages they spend here renting a place to stay, buying food to eat, etc. So even if the remainder is send abroad to relatives, their presence is still a net positive for the economy.
You obviously know nothing about Haitians and just making assumptions. If they make $1000/ month they paying $200 rent (3-5 sleeping in one apartment), $150 on phone (if they use their head they can pay half that on a monthly plan), $50 on food (they living on sugar and rice alone go ask somebody), $50 on transportation (save by bombing ride and walking). And $600 sent back home.
What value are you talking about- as i noted Dominican land owners dont lease land for other Dominican, but they will lease it to Haitian even if there is a the risk that Haitian will spoil the land, or leave the island abruptly without paying a couple months. Same with their rent.
High rates of cancer is largely due to Haitians not properly using chemicals in their farming practices- like spraying veggies with vydate days prior to selling! This is known stuff, so there is no gain- not to mention unknown diseases they bring here with them. These health risks trump any value you could mention.
I would love to have access to the results if that survey you did that shows that “most” of them are foolish and illiterate. Also, that they have no money. Please publish the link to your evidence do we can verify…
its easy to do yourself, go have a conversation with 10 random Haitians at random locations. I sense most people commenting have never crossed paths with Haitians and are just being internet goody-too-shoes. Is it any wonder 99% of these immigrants only seek low level unskilled tasks? Most of them seeking to be farm labour- at higher rates than locals- don’t even know how to file a cutlass. Just slum boys who got the chance to bomb a ride here.
nothing more to be said here. At some point it would be worth someone doing an analysis to see the net contribution (and I am sure it would be a very positive one) the the Haitians , Dominican Republic nationals, Chinese, Middle Eastern and European as well as other Caribbean and American nationals make to our economy. Maybe seeing the figures in black and white might douse some of the racist (and that is what it is) tendencies in our population .
Thanks, Sharon, for advocating for tolerance and respect of the Haitian migrants.
As you write, Dominicans only have to remember that the thousands of Dominicans who have left Dominica to seek a better life in other people’s countries. So, we Dominicans face the same plight as the Haitians; we both cannot get our needs, wants and aspirations fulfilled in our homelands.
I enjoyed reading this piece. Very well said.
I thought by now we would have been used to seeing Haitian around the island. But it is always easier to pick on some5eho we consider to be “different “.
Wonderful piece, great analysis
I was so surprised when in encountered Chinese nationals speaking patois. I wonder whether Dominican children are treating the Chinese and Dominican Republic nationals the same as the treat the Haitians?
The light skinned problem the slave masters bestowed upon us, which is the reason Dominicans cannot think independently and move away from those like the classroom experience. The classroom is a theater where most of the programming and begins.
Alas…
today the gov’t bring in outsiders to do public works job they bring in chinese who took up most of the shops in town massive construction companies to build homes and most of them bring their crew with them just a few Dominicans get employed and all that monies leaves the country.the only real industry in Dominica is passport selling and that cannot sustain a country for to long while most of the money that is generated in the country does not circulate.that is a recipe for economy for disaster when the money does not circulate.
Great insight in this article, but there are a couple of things mentioned I think need some attention.A Haitian comes to Dominica will take any job with no support he has no choice plus the EC dollar is worth much more than a Haitian dollar.A Dominica on the other hand, has been under this evil system with a subpar minimum wage they have endure the abuse and disrespect of the government set their sights on foreign. We know Dominica can be better so for some to say DA people don’t want to work it is not true we build this country that the new comers want to take from us. we welcome them but now it is turning against us because we are a very small state and there must be checks and balances.19 years a government did nothing to raise wages tear down institutions and corrupt the entire process all that has take a toll on some who are not of a political persuasion now they say Dominicans lazy we owned the shops in town we owned farms things was better than they are today.
My sentiments exactly. Thank you for speaking out. One voice can make a change. Am in another mans land legally but my heart is at home in Dominica. I work and save so that one day I can return and not have to work for anybody when I do return. So I understand the plight of the Haitians. Being away from your homeland, friends, family and familiar places is not easy. Thank you
A very well written article. It is just a shame to see how shortsighted some people are.