Like many Haitian-Americans in New York, I, too, am in the dark about my loved ones.
My cousin flew from New York to Haiti the day of the earthquake. A friend of mine was in my office that morning. He flew down the same day. I have heard nothing about either of them.
On the day of the tragedy, I was on my way to a meeting and received a call from a friend. I rushed back to my office, turned on the television, and what I saw was horrible, absolutely horrible.
I am a proud son of Haiti. The Haiti of my youth is a beautiful country, filled with wonderful memories of family and friends. We didn’t have to close the door at night. It was safe. We didn’t have kidnappings. The neighbors used to watch the kids. The neighbors used to discipline me. That was so wonderful.
The Haiti we see now is not the place I knew growing up. That is why this latest calamity is so difficult to comprehend. I know the difficulties Haiti has been through. I know the challenges and struggles they were facing even before this tragedy. I’m asking myself how much more they can handle.
For three days now, my office has been filled with worried people, desperate for any information.
Right now, I’m talking with my colleagues in government and trying to organize a delegation to travel to Haiti so we can see things for ourselves.
As a City Council member, I wear two hats. I have to fulfill my obligations to my constituents, but at the same time, I have to fulfill obligations to the community where I came from.
It was just a little while ago that Haiti was struggling to recover from four devastating tropical storms. We learned then how poorly equipped Haiti is to deal with a natural disaster.
I’ve been advocating for years for a basic infrastructure. Haiti is not even capable of providing a first response to save lives. Right now, people are waving their hands from under the rubble with the hopes that people will rescue them.
But even in the midst of all the death and destruction, it has been gratifying to see so many people of good will come together to help Haiti.
It’s going to take time. Haiti cannot go through this alone. I do believe that Haiti will overcome this difficulty. I do believe that Haiti will make it through.
Mathieu Eugene is the first Haitian- American on the New York City Council