The Future of Haiti - with Jean-Ricardo Compere

On the ground in Haiti, recorded in mid November, talking to entrepeneur and activist Jean-Ricardo Compere.

For more information, follow:

https://www.instagram.com/hiddensidesofhaiti/

Transcript

Jon Bonfiglio: 0:01

Hi everyone, I'm here with uh Jean Ricardo Comper in Cape-Haitian. Again, we spoke with uh John Ricardo a few days ago about the sort of re-evaluation, rethinking of um the significance of of Haiti, re-evaluating uh what it what it comes to mean to both Haitians but also to the international community and the Haitian diaspora. And I'm delighted to say that we're we're joined by Rick uh again just now. Just really wanted to get a sense from Rick of his perspective about what's coming up for for Haiti. But maybe we can start the good news uh with the good news from Tuesday. How did Tuesday night feel for you?

Jean-Ricardo Compere: 0:42

Oh, it was surreal till right now. I can't I can't process it. So I feel I mean I think that I'm still dreaming, you know, because it was something we've been we've been like craving for so long. We wanted we we wanted to see that, but we did know where it's gonna be, how it's gonna be um mean. So Tuesday night was very incredible. Like I can't even explain the feeling until right now. The emotion are still there, so it's quite incredible.

Jon Bonfiglio: 1:13

Yeah, because a couple of games ago it wasn't even likely that Haiti was gonna were gonna qualify, and then the last two results, and of course the the corresponding result between uh Honduras and Costa Rica was was a surprise, which I think made the joy all the more all the more out outstanding.

Jean-Ricardo Compere: 1:29

Yeah, because I mean uh th those last two games we didn't have faith that Haiti would make it uh to to the qualification for for the World Cup because you know we lost against Honduras 3-0 that killed all our hope. And eventually we played again against Costa Rica and we managed to win 1-0 that brings back the hope in the match against Costa Rica, not too many Haitians were thrilled about it because we didn't think we could beat Costa Rica. You know, Costa Rica is one of the biggest teams in the region. And then we we beat them, then we we were going to play against uh against Nicaragua on a big day too, you know, uh November 18th, 1803. Uh what happened in 80, that's one of the one of the most important days for us because it was on this day day that we managed to to kick out the fringe, we won the biggest battle. So at the time that that led us to our freedom, I mean that leads up leads lead us to 1804, uh, the declaration of Haitian independence. And I think that they also motivated our players, I mean, to say, okay, we did that like over 200 years ago, we still can do it. So it was a great day, and luckily we we we we won the match, and we we we we became like uh the only team in the region that qualify a second time for a World Cup.

Jon Bonfiglio: 3:09

Yeah, I mean crazy that it happened on the day on the anniversary of the Battle of uh Veriziers. Yeah, uh so you know that was an incredible sort of left field thing to to happen and huge congratulations. It definitely felt as that was an outpouring. Um it'd be really good to get your perspective on what's coming up for for Haiti. And of course, if we just stick with the football context for a minute, obviously all of the players who play for the Haitian national side are based overseas. Um the manager himself has never been to uh to Haiti and the the matches take place in Crusader. I'm not saying that as a as a negative, more about the fact that of course there are some ongoing structural issues in in the country, and of course we've got um that for for now a couple of years there's been a there's been a Kenyan uh sort of uh defense force numbering of about a thousand in in Port-au-Prince uh trying to to protect certain sort of state infrastructure in in the capital. The UN's now said that they're gonna enhance that to five and a half thousand. The World Bank is is uh bringing a development program in, which to be fair doesn't number huge amounts of money, but it but it is a sort of a sense that something is is is going to take place. I just wanted to get a sense from you, Rick, if if possible, of uh of course elections weren't held as well this last weekend, they're now slated for for next summer, for next August. Uh where do you think that the sort of the the Haitian uh autonomous socio-political project is headed over the next few months and years? Oh man, that's uh I think how how could I start that?

Jean-Ricardo Compere: 4:49

I mean, frankly speaking, for now we don't see the the will in our leaders uh to lead the country where it's supposed to be. Because right now we don't really see any effort, I mean, from them like trying mostly uh to face the problem we we we we are dealing with, which is the the the gang then gang leaders that are controlling pretty much uh all of photo prints and like we uh uh a large part of our Tsibonit. So and you talked about uh the Kenyan that they they they they they they were in 80 for over like for over one year and we don't see any uh uh any any any any improvement so we still can't go people can't still uh move freely, uh they can't move around freely, and there are some areas that they can't even access. And so many people had to leave their house because of that, and and some of those houses are burned down. And yeah, so the Kenyans are there, and I think when they came, the gang even became more powerful, and they realized okay, they they they they asked for international help and they're here in 80, they can't do anything with with them, and now they became they be they become like more trust trust trustful in in themselves. They think okay, if the Kenyan can do anything with me with me, so now I'm as power powerful as I thought I was. And so for me, I don't think the internal the problem we have in 80 can be resolved, can be resolved by the international. We still need their support, like in terms of equipment, in terms in terms of like supporting our our local force, like the police, national police. Like help them, teach them uh to know exactly how to face the gangs, so how to use this type, I mean, uh differ some different types of gun that is that is gonna be relevant to to face uh those those people. I think I mean our our national police know pretty well the the the the the the the the I mean the areas where the where the gangs are operating. So if like let's say lately there were uh some some great um uh how could I say that there was some some some something going on in in in Port-Prince. Uh our national police uh were about to fight one of the gangs leaders and then they managed to kill over uh over like I mean 20 of them. So it was only the national police. So with no support of the international, with no support of foreign force. So that means our problem can only be solved by our people. So I don't think uh I mean the the problems we're facing right now uh gonna gonna be like is good is gonna be better with uh the international force. They will be there, but I don't think any progress will happen soon.

Jon Bonfiglio: 8:05

So your sense is that um international support, international um assistance, but um emphasizing Haitian autonomy at the center of it all. And just as a just as an addition to that as well, when we're talking about Haitian autonomy, I mean we're talking about Haitian grassroots autonomy, right? We're not talking about the the usual historic political classes or the business owners. Would that be would that be fair to say that the sort of the view of the of the future of the Haitian project relies on a bottom-up kind of project rather than a top-down project?

Jean-Ricardo Compere: 8:44

Yeah, exactly. This is this is what we need, so because we they always promise us a lot of things. I mean, let's say for example, after the earthquake, so so many, so much money were raised, I mean, was raised for Haiti, but till right now we don't see the the results. The money were there, the money were um what was raised. But a lot all of that all of that money went back to where they form because when they when they say okay, they're supporting Haiti with a certain amount of money, and all the people that are that are coming or to work, so they gotta be paid and and overpaid, I have to say, and they need a place to stay. And they have to be, I mean, they have to be fed. All those money are I mean, let's say for example, 95% of the money, of the money got back to to where it's from. And the 5% that's left, I mean, barely get to where it's supposed to get. So that's a problem we're facing. I think we need we need the support, like I've said, we need the support. We need uh the international to help us to help us with with certain things. But they have to let us decide, I mean, what should be done. They should not dictate us because uh we are like uh could I say that? So we are an autonomous nation. I don't think I'm if I'm right, even though we we know, but most of the time we can't decide for ourselves because we have to be dictated, unfortunately. But we are a free nation. So since we are a free nation, I don't think it's fair for another country to think that they're like our father. They they they anything we're doing, they should know about that. Anything we're doing, they should they should be part of it. If they can be part of it, that can be done. I think that is one of the main reasons that hold us down from from getting where we're supposed to get.

Jon Bonfiglio: 10:42

Yeah, and actually interesting that you said the 95-5 split because actually that is generally speaking the statistic about the aid money that 95% stays within the people delivering the projects, which often are foreign designed, foreign-run, foreign-owned, and cover those costs, and ultimately about five percent reaches a given given audience. Just in terms of what you're saying, just if we can just come back to the the gangs for a minute. It seems to me that there's also an interesting divergence there as regards the gangs, because the gangs are not the Haitian elite, they're not the base business community, and they um there's a lot of rhetoric, in particular from um from one of the gang leaders from the VM Sam, the stronger together rhetoric about having a place at the table, and they f it's framed almost as a kind of a political project and not just a criminal uh project. Do you have any perspectives on that?

Jean-Ricardo Compere: 11:40

Yeah, I heard uh, you know, there is a coalition coalition between the gangs. Back in the days they were divided and they used to fight again against one another, but for right now, so they do uh something called they have uh they do like a type of gardenist, like they they put they put uh all their skills together, which call uh viva sum. Viv is a coalition of all the of all the gang leaders, all all the places that are I mean operating by by the gangs. I mean they they create Vivan Sam. And Vivan Sum, they say, I heard them say that they they have to to be represented in terms like getting a solution or getting Haiti from where it is, like they they have to to like if they're gonna be election, they they have to to to have like somebody that can that can go to represent them like like they have to they say they have to have like their president or I don't know any type of or could I say that like anybody that could represent them. This is what I heard. But for me, uh I don't think that should be part of uh of us of us getting out of this situation. I I don't think that should be something we should consider since they make us suffer a lot, so they they they they are the reason we are our situation is getting worse. They are the reason we are, I mean so many people had to flee port of pain or leave their house. And I know people that in in less than three months have to move from from from one to three or five five places. Okay, they they they they had their place, they had to leave their place and move to another one. They waited, then the gangs managed to control that area, then that person has to leave that second area, move to another one, then the the gangs take control of that other one, and finally they decided to leave Ford Prince, go to a place they've never been before, start a new life. Some of them had business at car, they can't not they cannot move with all of all of these things. So they have to start over, and so many people are suffering, like kids cannot go to school. I mean, I mean you know, most of Haitians are living on a daily, daily, daily basis. Like, what I do tomorrow is gonna be what I gonna eat to what I do today is gonna be what I gonna eat tomorrow. I mean, if I don't work today, if I don't go to the market, like selling stuff uh uh on the streets, there's no possible way for me to get something to eat tomorrow. So I mean all of those people are suffering just because of those gangs. I know there's things that should be done with them, but I don't think them being part of the of the solution. When I say solution, like being part of the unelected government, I don't think that is fair. There's something that should be done. I don't say they have they they all have to be killed, but at least they have to be paid for what they've done to us. I don't know, maybe in prison, or I don't know. So but for me, they can be part of of us getting out of this situation.

Jon Bonfiglio: 14:54

Rick, I just want to say a big thank you for uh for for your time again, for uh for your thoughts and comments. And if we can just finish with one um with one final question. I know, of course, you uh you launched and you run the hidden sides of of Haiti uh page which is on Instagram. It's a fabulously run, put together an important page in terms of how you sort of try and reframe the what Haiti means both locally and and internationally. So I just wanted to to ask you if it's okay in the sort of short medium term. What are your hopes and dreams for for you, for Kapaishian, for for what's coming up in your future?

Jean-Ricardo Compere: 15:35

So my dream is for Haitian, for every Haitian around the world and in Haiti to be able to enjoy all our beautiful resources, our beaches, our our like historic places. This is my dream. My dream is for Haitian to be able to move freely everywhere in the in the country. So my dream is for every place, every beautiful, every important resources we have in Haiti to be profitable to the people of Haiti. This is my dream for Haiti. I can't wait for our resources to be profitable. And I know once this day comes, for sure, Haiti is going to Haiti is going to be the pearl of the island like it used to be.

Jon Bonfiglio: 16:26

And uh and a World Cup win is that? Is that any part of your life streams?

Jean-Ricardo Compere: 16:31

Uh for us, qualify uh for the World Cup is already a win for us. So it is just like we we we we we we win a World Cup. So because that means a lot for us. Uh among all of what we're going through, I mean, this this news uh mean the world for us because we I mean back for the last five years, the only the only headlight you will find about Haiti must be on international media is negatively. It's negative. Like they talk about gangs they talk about uh like bad things that happened to us. In terms of good news, I don't think I've never seen that like let me say for the last decade, but for us as Haitian, a small team, if I can put it this way, we've never played a game at home, and to be able to qualify in such a way that means the world for us. And we've been uh it was something we wanted for so long, me personally, and I heard in the news uh that we we we went to a World Cup like for over uh 50 years ago. And to be able to live that, that's for sure, uh is something that's gonna stay forever in my memory. And I have a lot of things to tell my kids and my grandkids.

Jon Bonfiglio: 17:50

Amazing, Rick. Thank you so much, and I look forward to catching up with you again soon.

Jean-Ricardo Compere: 17:54

Thank you.