Stabbed for just a little more than a dollar

Today, we had to take a young female (14) and her "spouse" (16) to the clinic for multiple superficial wounds. At the same time but in another clinic, an older guy was admitted  for a stabbing wound in the abdomen. After talking to all parties and the people who were coming to the police station to report what they saw, it appears that the female borrowed 50 Gourdes ($1.20 or so) to the older fellow a little while ago. Today, the older guy was asking to get his money back so the female's spouse got involved. A physical confrontation took place between the two males then the young man stabbed the older one in abdomen and ran away. The female then smashed a glass bottle on her own head; then she went to the police station stating that the older male did it and that's why her spouse stabbed him.
The young couple was placed under arrest for assault causing bodily harm. The remaining investigation may bring some more details to that incident but anyway to me, being ready to take someone's life for a  little more than a dollar goes beyond my comprehension.
I understand the that life here is not easy for many people but going to that extent is just too much. Fortunately for the couple, the older male survived his wound otherwise the population could have rendered justice itself. Lynching is still happening and it usually very violent but this is another topic that I will discuss in another post.

A video to show you how busy the border at Ouanaminthe can be on a market day - http://youtu.be/CKE-eUHFqLc

On a previous post I explained by words the situation at the border, the people, the noise, the frenzy during market days. Now with the video I just uploaded on Youtube, you can see and hear what it's like; the only thing missing is the exhaust fumes but if you watch the video in your garage with your car running and the garage door closed you will be with me for the length of the video. (After the video remember to shut off the car's engine)
Fortunately for us the UNPOLs, we don't have to stay there all day long unlike the military or the PNH who are exposed to that madness for their whole 12-hour shift.

Traditional funeral procession with band: http://youtu.be/XRhUHRh1jxM

Residents of the unfinished part of the police station epilogue

We had a little chat with the father before we split. We explained that we were willing to help for his daughters to go to school but on the other hand he had to make an effort to provide them with the minimum necessities of life. It is his responsibility as a father. We also reminded the mother that she was responsible to ensure the girls were going to school but also that they had a decent place to live and enough food. We surely hope that life will give a little break to Laudenstiana and Love-Kalenstia, there is only so much one can do. When we left the market and while walking back to the car, Laudenstiana came just beside me, looked at me with a huge smile and put her little hand in mine; I guess it was her way to say "Thank you". Nobody could have thank me better the way she did. A fraction of time away from this world of misery to cherish for a lifetime.

Residents of the unfinished part of the police station 4 cont'd

Laudenstiana, Love-Kalenstia and their parents

Residents of the unfinished part of the police station part 4

Please, allow me to introduce you to Laudenstiana and her little sister Love-Kalenstia Aren't they just beautiful? Who wouldn't want to help them to go to school? They were so happy when we told them they will be returning there.

Residents of the unfinished part of the police station part 3

Something had to be done. I talked to one of the Colombian UNPOL, my friend Edwin who is also quite involved in other projects on his own, and we decided that I will go to the school and pay whatever had to be paid for the girls to go to school.Then we would submit the total bill to all the Ouanaminthe UNPOLs (8 in total for now) and see if they were willing to participate to the cost if not we would split the bill between the two of us. The next day, I picked up the father and the 2 girls and we went to the schools they have attended before money was too much of an issue to keep sending them. The other Canadian UNPOL was also willing to come with us and be part of this beautiful new adventure. While driving the 2 little girls were so happy to be in a car and on every little bump on the road they were laughing, they were so cute, you don't believe me....just wait to meet them. So, at the school we met their mother and explain to her what we were willing to do but in exchange we wanted her word that she would take the girls to the school every day which she agreed on. We paid then for all fees, school logo for the uniform and the school shirt. Then, we went to the market to buy the 11 books they needed each and finally to the tailor to buy the fabric they needed for their uniform. Once all that was done, it was time to return home. I had an opportunity to present this little project to all my UNPOL friends and explained to them that was totally up to them if they were willing to participate and share the cost between us all. They had no hesitation to split the bills and pay their part. I can see that for most of us we are here with a common goal, help the less fortunate and I'm glad that over time we don't loose focus of that goal. But enough writing, it is now time for you to meet the 2 little girls I've been writing about for so long.

Residents of the unfinished part of the police station part 2 cont'd

But knowing that two little girls were living there and were not going to school was just too much to bear. I talked to their father and asked him why his daughters were staying here all day long and not going to school. As I was expecting, money was again the issue as for most of these families. Unfortunately, the lack of money always has significant impact on the most vulnerable ones and of course I mean the children. The first thing that is usually cut in case of shortage of money is the education and anyone knows that without education one cannot expect to find a decent job in the future let alone rebuilding a country. And on top of that they are girls, which means that they will be even more vulnerable. I deeply believe in education but I also deeply believe and support girls education, because one day they will be able to speak up, fight for their rights and take their place in societies for a better world. ---------------------------------- The following is from The United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI) “Girls and women are often shackled by gender roles and outdated traditions, with male privilege and entitlement ensuring that when educational opportunities are limited, boys will take available classroom space. Gender roles and traditions that keep girls from school contribute an additional barrier to universal education and illiterate mothers. But an educated mother is more likely to have educated children, both boys and girls, which help ensures that universal education and gender equality will continue on through the generations. When we ensure that children have access to a rights-based, quality education that is rooted in gender equality, we create a ripple effect of opportunity that impacts generations to come.”

Residents of the unfinished part of the police station part 2

I have seen before some laundry hanging on the top part of the building but I never thought some people were living in the unfinished upper part of the police station which looks to me rather unsafe and more than uncomfortable. The pictures below will give you a rough idea of what I'm talking about:

Residents of the unfinished part of the police station

You remember seeing the picture below with the goats? As I said before, they are the residents of the unfinished part of the police station but this week I discovered that they were not the only residents. I met the person who is taking care of the goats and I learned that he also lives in the unfinished part of this building. By talking to him, I also learned that he lives with his wife and his two daughters he had with another woman.