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(The
following statements were taken from Ms. Geri Benoit's paper
"Harnessing History to Development: The Story of Cazale."
Ms. Geri Benoit is a native of Cazale and has represented
the Haitian Government at the OAS Sustainable Development
Commission, its Social Development Commission and Commission
on Caribbean Affairs.)
At
least one day a year - September 29 - the people of Cazale
can be found together, arriving from the capital and abroad
as well as just down the road to celebrate the feast day
of the Archangel Michael, patron saint of the village. At
first this might seem odd since Cazale, despite the very
visible presence of the Roman Catholic Church, is now predominantly
Protestant. But puzzlement fades when one sees how the social
aspect of the celebration overlaps the religious: yes, people
get together to pray, but also to laugh, do small projects,
and make plans for the future.
The second most important day in the lives of the people
of Cazale is March 27, which commemorates the anniversary
of the events known as the Massacre of 1969, when the village's
most brilliant and committed young militants for change
were killed or "disappeared." That year will be
remembered as of the saddest under the Duvalier regime.
Hundreds died nationwide in what observers have called "a
campaign of extermination against progressive youth."
The third important date was when the Pope cam to Haiti
on March 9, 1983. A delegation from Cazale went to greet
the Pope at the airport. Though mostly Protestant, the people
of Cazale considered Pope John Paul II as one of their own
because of his Polish origins.
The people of Cazale are quite modest and their contribution
will mirror their economic situation. They are now learning
that development will and should come from within. So far
the way they been showing that is by building houses in
their hometown. Those who live outside the country, besides
sending a portion of their earnings to relatives and friends
back home, have found that the best way to keep their bonds
intact and to provide jobs in the community is to build
a house there.
Cazale has a hidden treasure chest of latent talent. Its
human resources inventory is a kind of map to that treasure.
The children and young adults can bring fresh approach to
the new debates that are forming. Local officials and the
traditional leaders have the political savvy to keep the
community rooted in reality, and young energetic leaders
will begin to emerge once again to keep the community pointed
toward a better future.
Cazale may have slipped off the map and out of people's
memories for most of two centuries but its people now have
the chance to remind their countrymen and the world of what
their ancestors helped accomplish and what people living
now can do when they work together. Visitors looking on
can also take heart. What people's faces will be staying
is this: If the people of Cazale can do it, so can the people
of Haiti.
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