Pour le Pays
Pour la Patrie
Marchons unis
Today our Post is not about nautical things but life in general as this is a very sad day for me. At 1700 Tuesday Haiti was struck by a massive earthquake followed by a series of aftershocks which of themselves were extremely severe earthquakes. NAUTICAL LOG has been to Haiti (a French dialectic speaking country) many many times and served together with Haitian seafarers. We cannot think of a country in the Western Region that is less able to deal with such a catastrophe. The per capita income averages at $560 a year - yes a year. That is of course if there is an income at all to average most do not have one to be counted. If you have seen this mornings photographs then you know the National Palace has been destroyed also the United Nations Headquarters. With strong buildings like that gone one can just imagine the destruction to the simple shelters which serve as homes to the mass of Haiti's 9 million persons.
Many cruise ships call at "Haiti" but what the passengers see is Labadee, an artificial resort created for their visit - not Haiti. The Haitian people are not allowed to go there, picnics and swimming on the beach are not for the Haitian kids. Those who get jobs there as servants - oh one is supposed to say Staff - pay a severe price to get the job which usually supports a large and extended family. It may be that some of you have been on a cruise from Miami perhaps even sailed with me, I used to explain on the Bridge Tour about the true conditions in Haiti. Due to the 'guests' reaction the cruise line asked me not to mention those facts on the Bridge Tour. So my remarks were confined to private conversations including telling of my orders from the cruise line regarding the Bridge Tour.
Please if you possibly can in these difficult times respond to appeals for Haitian Earthquake Relief. Just about anything and everything is needed and the Appeal you respond too will ask for items that they take care of.
On behalf of the Haitian people "Merci mesdames et messieurs pour l'assistance, bon garde".
Many cruise ships call at "Haiti" but what the passengers see is Labadee, an artificial resort created for their visit - not Haiti. The Haitian people are not allowed to go there, picnics and swimming on the beach are not for the Haitian kids. Those who get jobs there as servants - oh one is supposed to say Staff - pay a severe price to get the job which usually supports a large and extended family. It may be that some of you have been on a cruise from Miami perhaps even sailed with me, I used to explain on the Bridge Tour about the true conditions in Haiti. Due to the 'guests' reaction the cruise line asked me not to mention those facts on the Bridge Tour. So my remarks were confined to private conversations including telling of my orders from the cruise line regarding the Bridge Tour.
Please if you possibly can in these difficult times respond to appeals for Haitian Earthquake Relief. Just about anything and everything is needed and the Appeal you respond too will ask for items that they take care of.
On behalf of the Haitian people "Merci mesdames et messieurs pour l'assistance, bon garde".
ANY BLOG OR MEDIA ORGANIZATION IS FREE TO QUOTE IN FULL OR PART FROM THIS POST. PLEASE USE IT TO HELP THE HAITIAN PEOPLE. WE WOULD REQUEST YOU ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR SOURCE AS "NAUTICAL LOG".
PLEASE FURTHER NOTE THAT "NAUTICAL LOG" (CAPT. BOUCHER) IS AVAILABLE TO HELP MANN ANY VESEEL GOING WITH RELIEF SUPPLIES FROM FLORIDA. CONTACT AT boucp@hotmail.com PLEASE PUT "RELIEF SHIP" IN THE "SUBJECT" BOX.
Merci/Thank you.
Good Watch
Comments