By Jaury Mendela Jean-Enard
It is the end of the Duvalier era. The young and old are fed up with tyranny, dictatorship and fear. The new word to have is democracy. The army has recently been disbanded and enrollment in the national police force is quickly increasing with young and fairly inexperienced people. The people, especially the young ones, wanted change at all cost; and they were willing to get involved any way possible.
A 21-year old, third year college student enrolled in Haiti’s National Police as an officer. Wet behind the ears, and eager to impact change he took the police inspector exam one year later at 22 and was accepted. He was sent to Saint-Louis Missouri for a training that lasted almost a year, after which he returned to Haiti to serve his country.
In July 1999, Yvens Fièvre, then a novice police inspector was coming home from work in a marked police pick-up truck, when he was met with two colleagues in front of his house. While the police force was given Smith & Wesson 38 revolvers, the colleagues waiting for him had T65 assault rifles in hand in broad daylight around 3:00 pm. Luckily, out of several bullets fired his way only two struck him non-fatally. One struck him near the left shoulder blade while the other hit him near the kidney. According to the doctors, had the bullet struck him one inch closer to the kidney, he would have been paralyzed.
“The wounds from the bullets are still on me,” said Fièvre. “I still remember that day like it was yesterday… It was a Monday,” he closed.
Despite talks of change and democracy, police officers and civilians were dying left and right for unknown reasons. In the case of Central Department Police Inspector, Yvens Fièvre, he knew exactly who was after him and why. Twenty years later, he refused to cite the name of his aggressors and why they were after him. One passed away while the other is said to be living in NY. Today, he simply calls it a matter of integrity vs corruption.
“If you want make a lot of enemies, start talking about change,” says Dr. Yvens Fièvre, now 48-year-old and living in Miami, Florida.
After being in hiding for days at friends and families’ house, Fièvre made it to the airport and managed to board a plane to Miami on an expired visa. He left his parents, and one-year old son behind. He would later receive care at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Trauma, pain and wounds would soon cause him to abandon his desire to be an agent of change. He turned to a vocation in computers that would ultimately lead him to being an advocate for education.
Needing a quick way to establish economic stability for himself and family back in Haiti, Dr. Fièvre enrolled at North Miami Adult Education Center, where he would learn English. With the support of then principal Lesly Prudent, he enrolled in a computer class that ignited his love for computers. In 2000, he received a certificate in computer repair. For the next couple years, he worked with at a dry cleaner, pressing clothes while furthering his education. In 2002 he landed his first part-time job until he landed his first part-time job as a computer specialist at Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Dr. Fièvre credit much of his success to the guidance he received from school principal, Lesly Prudent and advisor Milagros Suarez.
“The principal would come while class is in session to distribute job applications and openings,” recalls Dr. Fièvre. “That’s how I got my first job right here at Miami-Dade County Public Schools,” he continued.
Mr. Prudent is also a firm believer in ongoing education. He encouraged then Mr. Fièvre to further his education. Mr. Fièvre would go on to be awarded several computer certifications, such as the A+ and Network + certifications from the CompTIA, one of the IT industry’s top trade association. But it wouldn’t stop there. Mr. Fièvre went on to espouse the belief of his guide by pursuing in-depth education.
Seeing all that the US have to offer, Mr. Fièvre took advantage of opportunities awarded to him and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Network & Telecommunication from Florida International University in circa 2004. In 2015 he was awarded a PhD in Cryptography and Network Security from University of Miami.
Dr. Fièvre is a Network Infrastructure specialist for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, an employer that retained his services and expertise for 17 years and counting.
While wounds near his shoulder and kidney remind him to be ever so careful, Dr. Fièvre remains close to Haiti in various humanitarian and social capacities. In 2008 he formed Many Hands International, a 501c3 that supports orphanages, clinics and schools in Haiti.
“The wounds from the bullets and surgeries remind me to be a little more careful,” said Dr. Fièvre in a melancholic voice. “But if you don’t share your knowledge with others, then your education is wasted,” he rebounded.
At 48 years of age and wiser, Dr. Fièvre wants to reintegrate himself in the business of Haiti. In 2017 he launched a 501c4 called T.R.U.T.H. (Transgenerational Representation for a Universal Treatment of Haiti) with the objective of integrating the Haitian diaspora in the affairs of Haiti by working with Haitian legislators. He is constantly in touch with former classmates from the police academy. One such friend is Jean Gardy Muscadin, the current Inspector General of the Haitian National Police. The 501c4 had also met with Dr. Carl Murat Cantave, the current president of Haiti’s Senate.