I have a bit of cabin-fever. For the past 5 days, I've not left the block due to political turmoil and street riots. The election news announced last Tuesday evening brought about huge disgruntlement and anger, to say the least. Preval's hand-picked candidate, Jude Celestin, is in the top 2 with Mama Manigat. The Tet Kale (bald head) performer/singer, Mickey Martelly, did not rank to the disappointment of thousands who flooded the streets in opposition to the election council's results. Its grossly corrupt. Up until last Tuesday, almost every Haitian I asked agreed that Manigat and Martelly would be the two in the runoff.
From our apartment we could smell burning tires and hear riotous screaming. Black soot and glass shards coat nearby streets. Of course, the whole country was brought to a standstill. No tap-taps (pick-ups serving as public transport) or motorcycles were on the roads. Stores, schools, banks, all closed. Even as the riots calm down, general fear still rears its head as we wait for the election council's next announcement... will Martelly be added to the runoff? Will Celestin be taken off? How will everyone react? And then, what will happen on January 16?
Our programs have been closed due to the situation, but hopefully everything will reopen tomorrow. Just one more week, and then Dharma and I head to the US for some time with family and friends! Last year at this time, I was trying to fly to Haiti but got blocked due to the huge 2-foot snowfall. This time, I hope we don't get blocked from flying out of the PAP airport due to any political unrest. Whatever happens, it will be an adventure.
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