Jean Luc "Djalòki" Dessables

My last interview on this visit to Haiti was with Jean Luc (Dja) Dessables – a man I've respected ever since I first met him when I was bringing groups of people to experience Haiti. He has always been a “big picture” kind of guy, so I knew he would be able to give me some perspective on what is going on in Haiti, after the earthquake. I wasn't disappointed. He provided both perspective and a challenge.

Since the earthquake on January 12, Dja has been in the midst of the immediate response to the overwhelming needs of the people. The 1st full month was given over to helping to create the “Tent Cities” we have all heard about. He joined with others to provide tents, food, hygiene, medical care, water filters, lights, social and psychological support, help with children, condoms, and whatever else was most needed to sustain life.

Once the Tent Camps were established, Dja and others in the Haiti Response Coalition (made up of NGO's), worked to build the capacity for each camp to govern themselves, to select representatives, to plan the distribution of food and other needed supplies, to assure justice, order and calm. The primary focus was on the most vulnerable (women and children).

He acknowledged that there have been problems with violence, and that the police force was not up to the task of maintaining order. He observed that the police force hasn't been adequately trained, and at times has insisted they could do nothing about the people (men) who attacked the most vulnerable.

In one camp the women came together and realized they knew the men who were causing problems. They went to the police and said they could capture the men and hold them until the police could come to arrest them. The police responded by saying they couldn't do that. The women would have to bring the men they captured to the police station. Now, the women have no transportation, or ways to keep the persons constrained against their will. Thankfully the police are now beginning to respond to the needs identified by the women.

Dja also noted that many of the problems they have encountered since the earthquake were here before. People, communities and society were already “cracked” and partly dysfunctional before the earthquake. The earthquake was a trigger, but not the real reason of the massive destruction: the main reason comes from the dysfunction of the society, created by people with inner wounds, trauma and limitations. This recent disaster came on top of a pile of previous disasters accumulated by the Haitian people throughout history, be they natural, social, political, racial, economical, psychological, or spiritual.

The rebuilding of houses, offices, churches and shops without rebuilding the long time wounded, traumatized and limited people and society will create the same massive destruction when the next “natural” disaster hits Haiti.

Dja startled me when he said the workers with the International Aid Organizations are living on ships anchored in the harbor, and are therefore at least one step removed from the people they are here to help. And all aid workers must return to the ships by 6 pm. While it is possible to justify the need to do this for security concerns and the coordination of efforts, this practice also reinforces the unequal power relationship between Haiti and the major nations of the world.

Dja also noted that humanity (not just Haiti) is living through critical times. Decisions must be made to either allow the further destruction of the human world, or to change to create a new way of being and dwelling on earth. The modern western civilization has failed – especially with the role that money plays in our lives. We need to create a new heart connection between the peoples of the world, and allow compassion to bring us together as one people.