Today the team was feeling extra energized thanks to a much needed extra hour of sleep! But we quickly jumped into action with an insightful discussion about Haitian press and media with Milo Milfort, a Haitian journalist for Alterpresse. He explained to us that the Haitian press enjoys relative freedom, but there are few barriers to entry for those looking to become a journalist, making the quality of content inconsistent and repetitive. We also learned that the radio is the most common way for Haitian people to receive the news, making job positions in the radio sector more lucrative and desirable.
We will move on to lunch, where we were joined by Delphine, an old friend of Courtney's. She informed us about the development and importance of factory production. She believes that Haiti must move away from producing cheap t-shirt garments with low profit margin. Instead, Haiti should look to increase the variety of garments that they produce.
On to the tours! Under the lovely direction of Serge, our tour guide, we were able to learn about some of the hidden gems in Haiti. One gem is the creation of gingerbread houses from the 1700s. Only a few of these expensive homes were made and now the Haitian government has taken the initiative to ensure that they remain intact. Some are used as schools and others are used as law offices and homes.
After driving around and seeing the gingerbread houses, we visited the capital and we were able to see the statue of the "Neg Mawon," a symbol of Haiti's freedom and Jean Jacques Dessalines' statue, a major figure in Haiti's independence. After a quick walk across the street we were at MUPANAH, a Haitian museum where we saw everything from a boat made by the Taino people (the indigenous people) to a wall of all of Haiti's presidents. The golden crown of Haiti's second emperor was breathtaking and garnered the attention of everyone who saw it.
To top off our day of sights, we all enjoyed a Haitian dinner at "Entre nous" with the company of Ted and Katherine.
Stay tuned for the next blog as we travel to Desarmes tomorrow!
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