Haiti streets,
A view down the street toward the Bel Air area of Port-au-Prince. (GSR photo / Chris Herlinger)

PORT-AU-PRINCE — A feeling of jubilation is running through many Haitians, and some are demanding that France repay Haiti, in the week since The New York Times published its Ransom project about forced payments Haiti made to its former colonizer post independence.

To historian Pierre Buteau, the Times work brings the independence “double debt” back to the fore in conversations, since it destroyed the national economy. It brings both a sense of peace of mind for some Haitians who often think they are the one responsible for their own misery and is an awakening of the conscience of Haitians that can motivate them to reflect on their history.

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I am Juhakenson Blaise, a journalist based in the city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. I cover the news that develops in this city and deals with other subjects related to the experience of Haitians for the Haitian Times newspaper. I am also a lover of poetry.

Murdith Joseph is a social worker and journalist. She studied at the State University of Haiti and Maurice Communication. She first worked as a journalist presenter and reporter for Radio Sans Fin (RSF) then as a journalist reporter for Radio tele pacific and writting for the daily Le National. Today she joined the Haitian Times team and covers the news in Port-Au-Prince-Haiti.