Port-au-Prince Favorites

Favorite thing: Jean-Bertrand Aristide was elected president of Haiti in 1991. ( the very first FREE elections in Haiti since 1804)
It could have been a big chance for freedom, as Aristide was a priest of the poor population.
Shortly after his election, there was a coup d'etat by the army, but with the help of the USA Aristide returned in 1994.

Within short time he became even worse then Baby Doc...
...with parts of his family being drug-dealers
...with his own secret police

....and from a priest for the poor he became the richest man on the island within a few years...

Fondest memory: On my picture :
a scene on the market somewhere in Haiti

Favorite thing: The island was discovered by Columbus and he called it Hispanola.
It became the first Spanish settlement in the Carribean, with the capital Santo Domingo.
The local inhabitants were about 1 000 000 at that time but almost all of them died of infections untill 1533.
Therefor Slaves from Africa had to be taken to Hispanola.

Fondest memory: On my picture :
One of my paintings, showing the peaceful life in the country....

Favorite thing: Riots, fights and anarchy continued untill the USA made their first Intervention in Haiti.
In 1915 they took over the authorities, finance, customs and police and rebuilt the ruined structures of the country.
In 1934 they withdrew their troops

Fondest memory: On my picture :
another oil-painting from Haiti in my collection

Favorite thing: J.J.Dessalines, another slave was the leader of the riot and declared himself emperor Jakob I of the independant state of Haiti in January 1st, 1804.
He was killed in 1806.
There were many problems and fights between the black population and the mulattos that finally led to the division into a state of the Mulattos in the South and of the black population in the north of the island.
H.Christophe became king Henry I - some of his 15 castles and citadelles are still to be seen and are some of the main attractions for the tourists today in Haiti !

Fondest memory: On my picture :
one of my smallest oil-paintings from Haiti

Favorite thing: In 1797 a former slave, Toussaint l'Ouverture, became commander-in-chief of the french Colony of Haiti...

...BUT shortls afterwards he declared Haiti independant from France.
So Napoleon sent his troops in 1801 in order to get back Haiti.
Toussaint l'Ouverture was taken into prison and some of the new white commanders tried to re-install slavery.
This situation led into the next riot and the french army had to finally leave the island in nov.19th, 1803.

Fondest memory: On my picture :
another oil-painting with a typical scene.
I have it as a postcard and as a painting

Favorite thing: After the french revolution the black population of Haiti started their own revolution in 1791, killing and expelling the white settlers and farmers.
The french army was sent to Haiti to fight against the revolution, but they finally had to join the rebellions to fight against british and spanish troops.
In 1795 Great Britain had to give back the east of Hispanola to the French and the black slaves were granted their freedom and equal human rights to the white population.

Fondest memory: On my picture :
A large painting, made according to a postcard that was for sale as well in the shops.

Favorite thing: Step by step the West of the island was controlled by the Flibustier ( some sort of pirates with a licence to rob and kill by their homecountry )
In 1697 the island of Hispanola was devided into Haiti in the west and the Dominican republic in the east.

Fondest memory: On my picture :
A landscape in Haiti - maybe shortly before a thunderstorm

Favorite thing: Papa Doc Duvalier died in 1971, and his son "Baby Doc Duvalier" became "president for lifetime"
Baby Doc was forced by the USA to leave the country in 1991.

Between 1978 and 1985 I had several times the opportunity to whitness his dictatorship...

Fondest memory: On my picture :
One of the mainstreets in downtown Port-au-Prince.
These flags might be decoration for christmas, but I am not sure !