MIRAMAR (Le Floridien) — On Tuesday, January 12, 2010, the sky was clear and the weather simply beautiful in the morning. Everyone was moving around, going about their business as usual without thinking once that later in the afternoon a magnitude 7.0 earthquake would strike the country.
It was 4:43pm when the first tremor rolled and rattled the ground below Port-au-Prince. It quickly ratcheted up its intensity with relentless force, inducing terror everywhere. Only God knew what would happen on this typical hot and humid January day.
With approximately 3 million people affected, this earthquake was the most devastating natural disaster ever experienced in Haiti, and the start of a long, arduous rebuilding effort. Roughly 250,000 lives were lost and 300,000 people injured. About 1.5 million individuals were forced to live in makeshift internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. As a result, the country faced the greatest humanitarian need in its history.
As the years have drifted by, that date has become one of sorrow, an unforgettable moment for the resilient people living in the first free Black republic. And those living outside never miss the opportunity to remember those who perished on that dark day. It is also seen as a day of reflection dedicated to the memory of the victims.
Last Saturday, January 12, 2019, marked the 9th anniversary of this tragedy. As it became a tradition in South Florida, many activities were held to mark that moment in history. Among the many events and services that took place to remember those who died was a candlelight vigil organized by Miramar Commissioner Darline Bernot Riggs at Shirley Branca Park (6900 Miramar Parkway), held from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. Riggs made history in 2015 by becoming the first Haitian-American elected in the City of Miramar. For this event, she got the support needed from her colleagues on the council.
The gathering was a way for the city council to not only recognize those who died and the many more who continue to struggle in the aftermath, but also to show love and respect to the significant Haitian population living in the extremely ethnically-diverse city of Miramar.
Haitian singer and sax player Fritznel Adrien -known as Tsax- pastor-singer Inger Hanna, recording artist JAVEN Grace, recording singer/songwriter Eddie Gunter, and DJ Nicky Mix were the invited artists who entertained the crowd. Haitian-American activist and rap artist Mecca aka Grimo emceed the event.
At the opening, pastor-singer Inger Hanna sang the American national anthem and Fritznel Adrien the Haitian national anthem in both French and Creole. They were followed on stage by a young woman who performed a set of two wonderful songs, well received by the audience.
Attending and speaking at the event were all the City Council members (except Vice-Mayor Yvette Colbourne who could not make it due to a prior engagement, but she had attended the previous two events in recent years).
A very emotional Haitian-American Commissioner Darline Riggs thanked the people gathered at the vigil in memory of the victims of the earthquake. “This is a time for the City of Miramar and the community to honor the victims and families of those affected by the catastrophic event that took place in Haiti nine years ago,” she told the crowd. “This is an opportunity for us to come together and stand strong as one community and show our support and respect for the lost lives.” Commissioner Riggs then introduced the three other members of the Commission in attendance.
“There is a large population of Haitians in our wonderful city and it is important that they know we support Haiti and the Haitian community during this difficult time,” said Mayor Messam who also told the crowd that, “Commissioner Darline B. Riggs is a wonderful colleague to work with. She remains connected to Haiti and has been instrumental in organizing this event.”
Commissioner Winston F. Barnes, who tried his best to begin his remark in Creole (causing the audience to laugh) said, “I want our Haitian brothers and sisters to know they have friends and family in the City of Miramar. When I was in High School in Jamaica back in the day, the guy who sat next to me was born in Haiti. Haiti’s people continue to be very resilient. As Caribbeans, we need each other more than ever. That’s why I am here to show respect to the victims of the earthquake.”
“Whether you are from the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Haiti, we are one people of the Caribbean. I have great experiences with Haitians as businesspersons and also as an elected official. I have the opportunity to work with many Haitians in my professional life. As for Commissioner Darline Riggs, I thank her for being an amazing colleague, someone Haitians can count on when it comes to helping those in need. She is committed to the people of Miramar,” said Commissioner Maxwell Chambers.
All the performers put on a good show. They had the crowd, a majority Haitian, partying a bit. They found the right songs to make the crowd cheer with their music and clapping and dancing along sometimes, bringing a wonderful celebration of life to this somber commemoration.
Pastor-singer Inger Hanna performed last with a set of three wonderful gospel songs, bringing many of attendees to tears.
At the close, attendees were asked to stand side-by-side in the park, holding candles that flickered in a persistent breeze. Some wiped away tears during a three-minute-long moment of prayer that honored the memory of the January 2010 earthquake that devastated Haiti.
Marie Desil described the 43 horrific seconds of the earthquake and the aftermath of the disaster in Port-au-Prince. “It sounded like a tornado, followed by a bomb dropping. Then the noise under the ground started,” said Desil, a Miramar resident who was visiting relatives in Port-au-Prince that January in 2010.
“You heard the noise under the ground and it’s shaking and shaking, and everybody started running,” Desil remembered. “Houses were falling and falling, all of the fences were falling, people were falling, people were crying. You cannot see the air. All of a sudden it was dark.”
“I still have nightmares about those 43 seconds of that Tuesday afternoon. To God be the Glory! He saved my life. But I still can’t forget all the bodies piled up in the streets and all the destruction I witnessed that day,” Marie Desil added.
Nine years later, January 12th continues to hold significance in Haiti and for the Haitian-American community here in the United States. While the country still struggles under the weight of natural disasters, the Haitian people strive to seek life with a determination that continues to inspire and move the world. The heroic people of the Caribbean nation continue to heal and rebuild. Their great courage is a beacon and their remarkable resilience an inspiration.
LE FLORIDIEN