Welcome to Haiti

The small nation of Haiti is located on the western third of the island that it shares with the Dominican Republic.

After an initial period of colonization by Spain, in the sixteenth century, France took possession of the land and quickly became rich from the lucrative sugar and coffee plantations. To power the labor-intensive industries, slaves were imported from Africa.

The slaves revolted against the plantation owners in 1791 and by 1804 had succeeded in gaining independence from France. These dates distinguish Haiti as the first Black Republic nation in the world. It also means that Haiti was the second free republic in the Western Hemisphere, next in line to the United States.

Unfortunately, this early independence did not bring real freedom and opportunity to the overall population. Plagued by almost two-hundred years of political mismanagement, most of the people of Haiti have been kept in an uneducated, subsistence lifestyle.

Through a program of intimidation through terror, that played on the fears and superstitions of the people, the great majority of the population have been exploited and oppressed by a wealthy and powerful elite. Sociologists, ecologists, and economists alike see Haiti as a "nightmare gone bad".

Factors of high infant mortality, disease, illiteracy, poor education, overpopulation, deforestation, soil erosion, rapid urbanization, high unemployment and a weak infrastructure, all combine to bring misery to the people of Haiti.

With little in the way of natural resources, Haiti has virtually no exports to finance the many imports that it needs in order to survive. Apart from what it receives in humanitarian aid, the country has very little in the way of foreign income.

In spite of the amazing scenic beauty of the country and it's people, tourism is virtually nonexistent for this Caribbean nation.

Because of the political instability, lack of infrastructure and facilities, and the extreme poverty, tourist agencies direct their clients elsewhere.