Haiti's elite spared from much of the devastation

[Jkid]

Source: Washignton Post

PETIONVILLE, HAITI -- Through decades of coups, hurricanes, embargoes and economic collapse, members of the wily and powerful business elite of Haiti have learned the art of survival in one of the most chaotic countries on Earth -- and they might come out on top again.

Although Tuesday's 7.0-magnitude earthquake destroyed many buildings in Port-au-Prince, it mostly spared homes and businesses up the mountain in the cool, green suburb of Petionville, home to former presidents and senators.

A palace built atop a mountain by the man who runs one of Haiti's biggest lottery games is still standing. New-car dealers, the big importers, the families that control the port -- they all drove through town with their drivers and security men this past weekend. Only a few homes here were destroyed.

"All the nation is feeling this earthquake -- the poor, the middle class and the richest ones," said Erwin Berthold, owner of the Big Star Market in Petionville. "But we did okay here. We have everything cleaned up inside. We are ready to open. We just need some security. So send in the Marines, okay?"

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/17/AR2010011702941.html?sid=ST2010011703508

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I will not spoil the ending of the article, but I will give you one clue: In the end, nothing changes.

[itsrobert]

1. Send in the Marines?

Sorry the United States Marines aren't his personal security detail. He can go out and hire locals for security.

[alp227]

2. That very small elite class in an impoverished nation owes its fellow Haitians a lot.

Given that they're surrounded by slums and people who get paid a little to none by the day, "rich" Haitians know damn better than being selfish.