Vinn Goute

Nan dènye mwa sa yo, nou wè ke biznis nan zòn Christ Roi kòmanse ap boujonnen ankò e vinn gen plis restoran. Nou te sòti poun tal pale ak youn nan mèt resto sa yo, pou n te mandel plis enfomasyon sou kijan biznis pal la ye pou li.

Nou te arive poze l kesyon pou ki rezon li chwazi fè pal la nan zòn nan. Li te reponn nou se paske li wè zòn lan apropriye paske gen anpil moun ki frekante l. Li di li vle ede kominote a, tankou lontan yo te konn sòti ale byen lwen pou yo te ale achte yon pla cho, kounye a nou ka di pa gen sa ankò. Li te fè nou konnen dapre li biznis lan te trè rantab nan zòn lan, men kounye a la bagay yo chanje. Lè yo te fèk komanse, yo te konn depanse mwens kounye la yo ka di yo depanse plis pou yo prepare manje yo a koz de pri prodwi yo ki monte. Li di tou avan te gen plis kliyan men vi jan sitiyasyon ekonomik kounye a, moun yo pa sòti menm jan ankò.

Nou te gen privilèj pou n te pale ak youn nan kliyan yo tou ki di nou rezon ki fè li chwazi restoran sa se paske li jwenn bon akèy, sevis la rapid, e genyen bon kondisyon ijiène. Li te di pou mèt resto a pa dekouraje malgre jan sitiasyon ekonomik lan ye pou li toujou kenbe menm sèvis lan pou li ka jwenn plis kliyan.

Nou wè biznis sa yo bon pou kominote a paske moun yo jwenn bagay yo pi pwòch e pi fasil epi plis aktivite ekonomik nan zòn nan ka bon pou sekirite a tou paske depi genyen resto, konn gen plis limyè ak plis moun nan lari aswè. Nou swete pou mèt biznis sa yo jwenn plis kliyan e pou li rantrab pou yo, pou pemèt zòn lan kontinye devlope.
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Come and taste

Over the past few months, we have seen businesses starting to come back to life in Christ Roi and there are more and more restaurants in the area. We went out to talk with one of the restaurant owners in the area to see how business was going for him.

When asked was why he had chosen to start up his restaurant in this neighborhood, he explained that he had seen the area prime for this type of business because there was so much foot traffic. He saw opening up a restaurant as a way to help out the local community too, as people used to have to walk pretty far to get a hot meal. Now, that’s not the case anymore.

As for how business is going, he explained that when he first started up a few years ago, the business used to be more profitable; these days they spend much more to prepare food because food prices have gone up. The other challenge has been clientele. The restaurant used to have many more customers but as the economic situation has gotten harder, less people are going out to eat.

We had the chance to speak with one of the restaurant customers as well and asked why he had chosen this spot. He said the staff is always friendly, the service is fast and they are always clean. He hoped that despite the economy that the restaurant continues to deliver good service so they can attract more customers.

From our point of view, we see these businesses are good for the community - people in the area have access to more things close by and more economic activity can help the security situation too. When there are restaurants open, there tends to be more lighting and more people out on the streets in the evenings. We hope these business owners are able to find more customers and and that business to be profitable so that the area continues to develop.

Machann san mache

Nan plizyè zòn gen yon mache pou tout machann ta vann. Nou remake nan zòn Kriswa se nan lari a machann chita . Ki rezon ki fè sa?

Se nan lide pou chèche konnen, nou te sòti pou al entèwoje kèk machann kap vann nan lari a. Se konsa genyen kite reponn pou di ke zòn nan te gen mache se aprè tranbleman an moun ki te gen kay kraze yo te al abite nan plas mache a. Konsa machann yo te oblije al chita vann nan lari a. “ Nou rankontre anpil obstak nan lari a tankou lè lapli tonbe nou pa prèske jwenn kote poun chita ouvri komès nou yo, ak anpil labou. Epi machinn konn prèske kraze machandiz nou yo”.

Genyen lòt machann ki pa chita, k ap pwomennen. Machann sa prefere vann bò lari a menm si leta ta resi rive bay chak zòn mache pou machann yo vann ; ‘’mwen menm se yon machann pwomennen, lèm bouke m fè yon ti chita bò lari a m santi m pi alèz pou m vann ak moun kap pase , pase poum ta stab nan yon mache paske lòt machann konn rayi lòt machann pou ti kal plas. Pou rezon sa m pito rete vann nan lari ‘’.

Nou rive konprann plis moun pa jwenn travay pou yo fè se plis yo chèche lage kò yo nan fè komès; nòmalman yon moun pa ka viv de bra kwaze. Eske vrèman leta ap panse pou moun sa yo ak machandiz yo kap pran pousye, mikròb tout kalite bò lari a?

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Marketless Merchants
In many neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince there are dedicated marketplaces where merchants in the area come to sell. But in Christ Roi, we see that it’s in the streets vendors sit with all of their goods. Why is that?

It was with this question in mind that we set out to interview some of the merchants in the area. In talking with several women, we learned that there was previously a marketplace in Christ Roi, but after January 12^th displaced families from the neighborhood moved into the market area seeking shelter. As a result, the vendors had not choice but to move into the streets to sell.

“There are many downfalls to selling in the street. When the rain falls, we pretty much have nowhere to sit; there is tons of mud. And cars in the area pass by so close they nearly run over our stuff.”

There was another vendor we spoke with who doesn’t sit, but instead walks through the streets selling. She told us she preferred selling in the streets this way, and that even if the government were to establish a new marketplace, she wouldn’t work there. “I’m a walking vendor. When I’m tired, I sit down for a while and sell to those passing by. I’m more at ease selling to passersby than being fixed in a market place. In the markets there is all sorts of jealousies, too. Other vendors can curse you through Vodou for something as simple as taking their spot. Because of all this, I prefer to be in the street.”

We learned that as more and more people can’t find work, they are turning to small commerce like these vendors to make ends meet. What concern does the government have for these people who sit on the streets with all of their goods amongst all of the dust and germs?

Komès pèpè

Youn nan komès ki genyen pi plis an Ayiti se komès pèpè a. Se poutèt sa nou te al fè yon ti chita pale ak yon machann kap fè komès sa pou nou te ka konnen plis enfomasyon sou komès pèpè a.

Q. Depi konbyen tan wap fè komès sa?
R. Mwen te kòmanse fè komès sa depi avril 2010 ki donk mwen gen plis pase 1 nan .

Q. Poukisa ou te chwazi fè komès sa?
R. Paske aprè tranblemann tè a tout bagay te kraze. Kounya mwen te chwazi fè komès sa paske se li mwen te renmen pou mwen te kapab retire strès.

Q. Pa ki fason ki fè ou te rive fè komès sa?
R. Mwen te konn pote manje kwit anbwate nan yon enstiti fr

ansè sou kòmann. Aprè tranblemann tè a konpayi sa kite pòtoprens li ale jakmèl. Kòm mwen te déjà gen kòb sa nan menm, mwen deside achte pèpè poum revann.

Q. Ki avantaj ou jwenn ak kisa ki pi difisil nan komès sa?

R. Sa ki pi difisil pou mwen pafwa lè m’ chita bò lari a yon kliyan vini li fè w pale plede manyen komès la epi li vire do l li pa menm achte .Epi tou trajè a difisil lèm sot achte machandiz la nan depo jis kafou se anba redi pou machin piblik pote’l pou 500 san goud potel kriswa
Avantaj mwen jwenn ak ti benefis la mwen peye kay m peye lekòl timoun yo mwen bay o mande ladan mwen fose viv avèk li jan sa ye.

Malgre jan sa ye, jan vi an difisil, avèk komès sa nou wè medam yo jwenn yon fason kan mèm pou degaje yo pou yo chèche lavi.

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Pèpè vendors

One of the most common types of commerce in Haiti is what we call Pèpè, or the sale of second hand goods donated or purchased from abroad. We went out to talk with one of the merchants selling Pèpè in the area to find out more about her business.

Q. How long have you been in this type of commerce?
R. I started back in April, 2010 so it’s been about a year now.

Q. Why did you choose to start selling Pèpè?
R. After the earthquake, everything was destroyed. I started in Pèpè to help ease my stress.

Q. How did you get started?
R. Before, I used to prepare boxed lunches for special orders and deliver them to the French Institute. After the earthquake, the company I used to deliver food to left Port-au-Prince for Jacmel. With the money I had from this business I decided to buy Pèpè to resell.

Q. What are the benefits you see in this type of commerce? What is most difficult?
R. The hardest part is when I am sitting here in the street and a client comes up, starts talking, picks up some of the merchandise, and then turns and walks away without buying anything. Transport is also tricky when I go to buy merchandise. The depot I buy from is all the way out in Carrefour and I end up paying more than $12 USD to get everything back to Christ Roi where I sell.

The benefits are that with what I make from this business I am able to pay for our house, send my kids to school, feed the family. I make it work with what I have.

Despite these difficulties, Pèpè offers many women in this country a way to make ends meet and make a living.

Dekonble lakou lakay

Depis apre 12 janvye, tout kote nou pase nan lari Port-au-Prince se kay kraze. Lè moun yo wè dekomb ap ba yo pwoblèm bo lakay yo , yo retire yo men se nan mitan lari yo mete yo, ki vle bay yon pi gro pwoblem. Yon nan pwoblèm sa yo nou te gentan wè, se pwoblem blokis. Ak dekonb nan lari, machin vin pi difisil pou sikile , e nou te deja pat gen bon rout. Nou te fè yon ti sòti nan zon Kristwa pou n aprann plis sou pwoblèm dekonb.

Lè nou tap pale ak moun kap leve dekonb yo, nou te mande yo poukisa se nan mitan lari a yo deside mete dekomb yo. Atout yo we ki gwo pwoblem sa ap bay nan lari a ? Gen yon moun ki tap vin vide nan lari a te reponn nou li di : » depi dat kay yo fin kraze, leta pa janm deside fe anyen pou nou. Nou oblije metel nan mitan lari a, o mwen lè sa leta ap we li koz yon gwo pwoblem, la resi voye yon machin vin ranmase l ».

Nou poze yon lot moun kesyon, kote nou te mande l, Ki pwoblem dekomb lan bayo lel tou pre lakay yo? Epi gen yon dam ki te reponn nou ki di : » le dekomb lan tou pre lakay nou gen moun ki tou pwofite vin vide fatra sou li, lè konsa fatra sa yo konn kale moustik ki ka ba nou plizye maladi tankou malarya, tifoyid ect… Epi le lapli tonbe dekonb lan fe labou devan pot lakay nou. Lè nap antre li konn pemet nou tonbe. »

Nou komanse wè ke kesyon sa ap bay anpil pwoblèm pou moun nan kominote a, pa sèlman nan domen transpò. Nan pale ak moun sa yo, nou te aprann tou ke pi fò travay nan retire dekonb, se pa leta ayisyen kap fè l, se òganizasyon entènasyonal. Si òganizasyon yo ki deja sou pye nan domen sa tap mete tèt ansanm avèk gouvènman pou ta genyen yon kote disponib nan chak kominote lè yo leve doknb la yo pa tap bezwen bloke lari a, yo ta kapab jete l direk. Konsa li tap genyen yon bon rezilta pou popilasyon an ni nan sante, ni nan trasnpò, ni nan rekonstriksyon peyi a.

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Removing rubble from the country's backyard

Ever since January 12^th, everywhere you go in Port-au-Prince, you see crumbled buildings. When the rubble starts to get in the way of residents daily lives, they are forced to remove it. But where does this rubble end up? It ends up in the streets outside, causing another set of consequences. One of the consequences we had noted was increased traffic, which was a challenge in this city even before the earthquake. We went out into the neighborhood of Christ Roi to find out more from residents about the effects the rubble caused.

When talking with those removing rubble in the area, one of the questions we asked was why they were dumping rubble in the streets when everyone can see this causes problems. Some of those working explained to us, “since the day these houses crumbled, the state hasn’t done anything for us. We are forced to dump it in the streets, because at least this way the government can see it is a problem and they are forced to send a truck to remove it.”

We also asked residents of the area what other issues rubble causes when dumped in the streets. One woman in the neighborhood explained, “when there are piles of rubble in front of our house, people take advantage and start dumping their trash here, too. The trash starts to attract mosquitoes and flies and along with them come viruses like malaria, typhoid, etc. When it rains, the rubble gets muddy too, making the entrance to the house slippery and dangerous.”

We began to see that the issue of rubble causes a series of problems for residents of the city, which go beyond just traffic. From talking to those in the area we also learned that most of the rubble removal happening now is not actually the work of the government, but international NGOs. If these organizations already active in removal could begin partnering with the government to have fixed dump sites in each community and a set schedule for removal trucks, those clearing out the property would not need to dump rubble in the middle of the streets. This would benefit the population at large not only in the realm of transport, but also in health, and the reconstruction process at large.

Nouvo gouvenman Ayisyen an

Nan yon ti chita pale ak kek fanm nan kominote yo, gen youn nan yo ki tap pale avek mwen sou nouvo gouvenman Ayisyen.

Q. Kisa w panse de nouvo gouvenman Ayisyen nan?

R. Mwen panse entan ke mizisyen ki rive prezidan jodia, jan li te konn ap chante pou fe pèp la plezi, mete la jwa nan kè, mwen panse konsa li kapab rive travay pou fè kè pèp la kontan, pou retire yo nan sitiyasyon yo ye. E vre li pat yon politisyen men nap swiv paske li ka gen an pespektiv vizyon pou devlope peyi a.

Q. Si w ta nan plas pou chita pale ak nouvo prezidan an, ki konsey ou tap bay li?

R. Kom premye konsey m tap pote, sè pou l fè yon rekonsilyasyon nasyonal, e pou li pa ekskli pesonn ki pre e ki gen kapasite pou patisipe nan devlopman peyi a. Mwen tap konseye li tou pou li pa chita sou entere
pesonel yo Selman, men nan yon fason ki tre kolektif konsa ansanm nap rive devlope peyi nou.

Si w ta nan plas pou chita ak government ki konsey ou tap ba li?

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The New Government of Haiti

While sitting and talking with a few women from different communities around Port-au-Prince, I interviewed one young woman about her thoughts on the new government.

Q. What do you think of the new president?

R. As a former musician now become president, maybe he (Martelly) can rise up and truly lift people’s sprits. The same way he used to sing for the people of Haiti and fill their hearts with joy, maybe he can bring them out of the situation they are living in now. Even though he wasn’t previously a politician, he does have a vision for developing the country. We’ll stay tuned to see.

Q. If you could sit down and talk with the new president, what advice would you give him?

R. The first piece of advice I would give is to focus on national reconciliation and to not exclude anyone that could have the capacity to participate in the development of the country. I would also advise him not to get caught up in purely personal interests, but to focus on a truly collective way for us to develop this country together.

I turn the question now to our readers - If you could sit down and talk with the new president, what advice would you give him?