HAITI

HAITI 2004 FLOOD

Haiti and its people are the poorest amongst South America.

Its history made many times world headlines.

Furthermore, natural disasters devastating the country and its economy

HAITI -- BAS-RAVINE
IN THE NORTHERN
PART OF CAP HAITIEN 

HAITI MANGROVEFORES

HISTORY

A PICTOGRAPH
TELLING THE STORY
OF MISSIONAIRIES
 ARRIVING IN HISPANIONLA
IN 1510

In 1791 a Haiti revolution was against the French rulers. One of the famous leaders was Toussait l'Ouverture. In 1804 Haiti became independent and was the first black republic in the world. 

JEAN JACQUES DESSOLINE LEADER OF THE REVOLUTION AND FIRST RULER OF INDEPENDENT HAITI

In 1915 the USA moved in and  occupied it till 1934.

Most of the country's rulers were dictators. The most gruel dictators were 'Papa Doc' and 'Baby Doc' Duvalier yet the USA supported them both. 

Recently there were moves towards democracy and Jean-Bertrand Aristide was elected in 1991 as president. However, he was soon ousted by the military after a few months. The USA intervened and he was reinstated in 1994.

COUNTRY 

The land is shaped as a horse-shoe and on the western side of the Hispaniola in the Caribbean. Haiti is a poor country and many times connected with voodoo drums and cruel dictators.

It is the third of the Hispaniola island and borders onto the Dominica Republic.

The landscape is rugged and covered with tense, tropical forests. These forests contain tree-ferns and bamboo with wildlife of lizards, flamingos and crocodiles.

The tropical forests had been cut down to make way for farming but it resulted into the soil being washed away by heavy rain which resulted into further greater poverty.

ECONOMY

The export is sugar, coffee and sisal. The farmers can grow only enough food to feed their family. To increase their income, they cross the border into the Dominican Republic to cut sugar can.

They also emigrate because the life is so harsh. The few industries which exist are sugar mills and a major export of baseballs.

The people are descended from African slaves who were brought over by the French colonists. French is widely spoken and so is Creole which is an Afro-Caribbean language with many French words.

Their religion is mostly Roman Catholics but voodoo which is an African-based religion is practised. Haiti art and literature is different from the other countries.