Fort Liberte Prison - a Civil Liberty Story

We have just left the Fort Liberte prison. We visited to deliver food, blankets, shoes and soap. We were also there to help Edner. 9 months ago Edner was arrested for being with a group of men who allegedly stole rice. Edner had no money and went to prison without a hearing or trial. The cells were horrible places - 5 for men 1 for women. They were approximately 10 x 14 and each one housed up to 40 men. They received 2 meals a day max and two 5 min periods outside. Each had one open toilet and all offenses were housed together.

Edner's release was negotiated by Father Duken of FFP and he was released with us. In a moving ceremony, our own Father Bill Deneke washed his feet and FFP provided him with shoes for his family and a ride home. As most of us are civil rights attorneys it was a victory far from home and a reminder of the reasons for our practice and more so the necessity of an indigent criminal defense system everywhere including at home.
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Cap Haitien

Cap Haitien from the air belied the scene from the ground. Our first stop was a school - EPPLS - where a well was donated by Cross Fit. The children were at the well constantly and overwhelmed us on our arrival. Inside the school the children sang songs of thanks "welcome is the word for you" and begged to have us take their picture.

Immediately outside the poverty, waste and filth was equally overwhelming. FFP is trying to move the families from the worst areas and add more wells to ward off disease and advance education and the general quality of life.

We will visit other areas worse off this afternoon and see several new wells.
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Our plane

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Well at Port de Paix

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Leaving Port de Paix

Avoiding another tortuous road trip we decide to take to the air.
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Haiti Day One - From the Road

After nine hours on the road, reflecting on our day, we see the lives that have been touched, including our own. We received praise and song for a basic necessity, clean water.

Gonaives

Patricia Gauthier arrived here in September to run the FFP school. 60 children ages 3-6. The area around the school has no water and the kids need it to drink and to have sanitary conditions for living and learning. They have drilled a well but have no pump to retrieve it and still need to test its quality. Patricia has been joined by her mother and they are working each day to teach the kids, involve the community and live in difficult conditions.
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