By Victor C. Kirk
The invitation read “LE PRESIDENT A VIE DE LA REPUBLIQUE ET MADAMA JEAN-CLAUDE DEVALIER ONT LE PLAISIR D ’INVITER MR. ET MOME VICTOR KIRCK A UN BAL TRAVESTI LE LUNDI CINQ MARS…” DEGUISEMENT DE RIGUEUR – CARTE EXIGIBLE A L’ENTRÉE”.
My initial duty was to secure a sense of credibility with the group particularly in that they harbored varying stories of horrendous conditions in Haiti. My first step, issuing a letter to the Haitian Ambassador to the US outlining our goals and seeking confirmation that a congruence existed between our goals and his mission in the US. His reply was heartwarming and spawned the idea of the return to Haiti of a small Baton Rouge delegation to the Haitian capital city – Port au Prince.
It was not long while in Haiti that I and my entourage came face to face with the true meaning of diplomacy and the reality of being in a country whose leader was a dictator. I had been advised that rules of the game are crafted on-site – follow the leader and keep quiet until you can contact your liaison with the American Embassy. While at the airport waiting in line to secure our luggage, a crowd gathered in the distance and a rumbling was heard. The Vice Mayor of Port au Prince, Madame Marie LaFontaine made it known that she sought the whereabouts of Victor Kirk and his entourage. My local US Embassy contact had begun directing my group toward the baggage claim area when all of her efforts came to a screeching halt!! Not sure if they were solders or private duty guards, but every one of them had what appeared to be an AK 47 or machine gun of some sort. Wherever they moved, the crowd thinned without an audible word. We were quickly located and moved to a private room in the airport where champagne awaited us – and thank God, the bathroom. The Vice Mayor turned to the US Embassy liaison and said to her very authoritatively, “identify their luggage for they are coming with us”. The liaison advised that hotel accommodations were made for us at a local hotel in downtown Port au Prince. The Vice Mayor replied, NO, they are guests of the Mayor of Port au Prince and will stay at the Hotel Cap Haitian in Cape Haiti. This exchange increased our anxiety but a nod from our embassy liaison was comforting.
The Vice Mayor carried the authority of the mayor who was an extension of the President. To live and work in a country ruled by a dictator must be unnerving. The American soil breeds anarchy as a right – in the land of dictators’ silence overrules logic and measured diplomacy is held in high regard.
To my surprise the Mayor of Port au Prince was a commanding figure with a welcoming smile and firm handshake. You could tell he was either military and/or spent time in a gym. It was awkward greeting him for the first time having reflected on the news reports chronicling the vice and mayhem and lives cut short either at his command or emanating from the President. Rumors were plentiful of the number of persons who went missing in the night after a failure to comply with an order from someone attributed to the mayor or his cadre of supporters. He too was surrounded by men with weapons and knives and guns and bullets strapped to their chests. Before he entered the room a set of guards entered first and positioned themselves near every window or potential exit. “Victor it is so good to finally meet you” were words that accompanied an extended arm for a handshake and a smile that disarmed all in the room.” Likewise, Mayor Romaine! NO!!! please call me Frank we have much business to do so the formalities are not necessary”.
It wasn’t long before he mentioned that he had a daughter studying at a university in the U.S. and wanted me to mail a letter to her from the states upon my return. “Yes, I would be glad to do his for you, I replied not knowing if it was appropriate or safe to decline the request. After a few days of dining at restaurants representing the best of Haiti and meeting dignitaries from all walks of life in Port au Prince, we finally sat to talk about next steps in rebuilding the relationship between Baton Rouge and her sister city Port au Prince – participation in the Haitian Carnaval Ball next year. He would build a float for the delegation that would include tow queens from Louisiana who would travel to Haiti with their escort as guests of the City of Port au Prince – code word for all expenses paid.
