Haiti, November 2019

Dear friends,
I greet you all and hope that this note finds you in good health. It's been 14 months since we, in Haiti, have been living in unprecedented times. In the past, after a greeting of "how are you?” we would usually hear "not too bad." These days the responses are "I'm dying of hunger" or "I'm not going out anymore." And the parting wish now is "be careful."

Life in Haiti has become very difficult. Travel from one city to another is impossible. Food, treated water, fuel, propane gas, products of first necessity such as flour, rice, pasta, and ingredients such as oils, spices, soap, milk, cereals all remain in Port-au-Prince in the warehouses of their owners. The farmers and agriculturists cannot transplant their fruit and vegetables to big cities.

The charcoal remains in the provinces. the people in Port-au-Prince cannot prepare food without charcoal.

The majority of hospitals in provincial towns remain closed due to lack of fuel and also to maintain the safety of patients and employees. Doctors are stranded in one place or another. The general hospital of the city of Les Cayes is inoperable. Currently, if you need to get to North America for a serious emergency illness, a Cayes charter flight to Port-au-Prince is $750. Getting sick these days in Haiti is not desirable.
 
Some priests are stuck in Port-au-Prince with or without their family and others in the countryside with or without their families. Some commercial banks open their doors early in the morning before demonstrations while others open just every two days. One piece of good news: with the magic of technology, your funds sent to your partners are transferred by direct deposit to the accounts of institutions in provincial towns.
 
The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Haiti had a very positive meeting with the Presiding Bishop last month in New York concerning the state of the diocese. The current situation in Haiti has greatly slowed the activities of the diocese. The diocese convention is planned for January 28 and 29, 2020. The sources of income of our institutions are completely blocked as people have no money for school fees or to give to the church. Sincerely the situation is alarming.
 
With the fervent hope of your prayers, we thank you all in the name of our Lord Jesus.

Kesner Ajax
Partnership Coordinator
Diocese of Haiti
Rev. Dr. Kesner Ajax                                                                
Dean of BTI and executive secretary
Episcopal Church of Haitiepihaiti@yahoo.com                                                   
bticayes@gmail.com                                                                   
Tels. 011-509-3445-3346
        011-509-3724-8376
        011-509-3375-4548