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The scale of the human catastrophe in Haiti is widening – it seems almost every hour. In the wake of Tuesday’s 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck the capital of Port Au Prince, the death toll is staggering; national institutions are in a state of literal collapse; the government is in disarray; while disorder and desperation are rising. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been promised in aid, but with the capital city largely reduced to rubble mobilizing that assistance will prove difficult. It is being called possibly the worst earthquake disaster in history.

Watching it from afar are Haitians in Belize. Included in that is the President of the Methodist Church in Belize and Honduras Minister Roosevelt Papoulte. His home in Capsian is at the north of Haiti which was spared the worst effects of the quake. But while the Minister’s family were unhurt, their church and schools were hard hit and at least one director is known to have lost his life. He says the Methodist Churches across Belize will be doing their part to help bring aid to those in Haiti.

But there’s no magic wand for this devastated country and looking at the wider picture Minister Papoulte told us that he is concerned that it will take a very long before any sense of normalcy is restored to Haiti.

Min. Roosevelt Papouloute, President – Belize Methodist District
“The Methodist Church is also affected. We’ve lost schools and clinics and one of the main church in the capital city is damaged as well and we have lost, we have one person who was the manager of one of our houses and he is dead right now.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
“Have you and your wife been able to reach families and relatives back home?”

Min. Roosevelt Papouloute,
“Yes my wife got an email from her sister today, she got a phone call from her as well and so that brought joy to her heart and all of our hearts. Their family is doing good and we are still waiting to hear from our friends who especially live in the Port Au Prince to know exactly what is happening with them. We haven’t heard from them. It is difficult to communicate with people, especially those who live in the capital city.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
“That is encouraging news considering that the northern part of the country or at least where your family resides was not greatly affected. What do you think now will happen to the future of Haiti?”

Min. Roosevelt Papouloute,
“I think the country has made several steps backwards. We are hoping that with the decision of the United Nations, the entire international community to help Haiti to move forward, we are hoping that would be indeed the case. But with the disaster now, the country is going to be in a difficult situation to rebuild the capital city. To help those who have lost everything, especially their homes, it is going to be a very difficult step. It is a country that has already been going through difficult situations politically, financially, and socially and so it is not going to be easy for the country to recover from this.

Because we are a part of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas, we have already sent communications to District Presidents in all districts asking for offerings and whatever efforts that can be made at the district levels, whether in the congregations to make sure that we make contributions, meaningful contributions to help the people in Haiti.

When I went to Haiti in 2006, that same area where the earthquake has caused so much damage, I said to certain friends who were working together, I said this is a village which is a dangerous place for people to be building homes where they are building it. I didn’t know that the earthquake would have done such devastation but I believe in the restoration process to rebuild the country, the government and the people of Haiti will have to seriously rethink how they build, where they build, and of course try to see if they could decentralize the activities of the country so that not everything takes place in the capital.

In a couple months there will be election in Haiti because perhaps based on what happened they might seem to postpone it or delay it but the people will have to sit down. It is not longer business as usual where we just vote. We need to vote for people who believe have the vision and the will to help Haiti move forward.”

This Sunday a special service organized by the Council of Churches is planned at the Methodist Church on Albert Street. That service starts at five in the evening. It will be a service of prayers and thanksgiving in remembrance of those who lost their lives and those who survived but are now in need of aid in Haiti. And here’s what you can do. NEMO has opened an account for cash assistance and that can be sent to: NEMO Scotia Bank Relief Account # 193-48-10. A press release reports that NEMO Belize is in constant communication with Belize’s Hon. Consul in Haiti, Didier Gardere, who along with CDEMA will conduct the initial assessment and then advise on the best way in which Belize will be able to asst the people of Haiti. At that time, NEMO will broaden its relief efforts.

And Channel 7 is also doing its part. We’ve teamed up with Krem Radio and Television to organize “The help Haiti benefit concert and telethon.” It will be held next week Saturday night at the Bliss Center. It will feature live performances from a variety of artists with all proceeds going to the relief effort. There will also be a phone bank where you can call in and make your pledges. Details were just being organized this afternoon and we’ll have more details tomorrow.