Folks,
I have written before about travel difficulties due to the violence and upheaval in Haiti. I recently returned to the States, and I’m not sure I would call that trip experience “difficult.” It would describe it instead as fraught, chilling, unnerving and just plain epic!
In preparation for the trip, I asked my police friends if they could accompany me to the Port au Prince airport as the streets are chaotic. This is something we’ve done before. There is a measure of security in riding in a police car! However, I had my doubts such a plan would be possible as the police are currently swamped with the daily violence on the streets – burning tires, gangs, attacks, kidnappings. Taking me to the airport isn’t very high on the list.
In Haiti, of course, it is about who you know. A friend of mine was able to connect with the police, and they came up with a plan. I agreed to it, and this is what happened.
At six in the morning on the day I was to leave Haiti I went to the police station. There I got into a police car, and we drove to another police location. At that point – I’m not kidding – my wrists were zip-tied, and I was loaded into a paddy wagon with other prisoners. (My small traveling case was quietly stowed under the seat of the driver up front.)
And that, my friends, is how I was driven (safely, I should add) to the Port au Prince airport. I can’t say that I EVER want to do that again. For now it’s a moot point as it is practically impossible to make plans to return to Haiti. American Airlines is running only one flight per day, and things there are all but at a standstill.
Pray for Haiti. Pray for its people’s safety. Pray for peace.
Michael Anello
Executive Director
