No word on Haitian relatives

Posted on 13. Jan, 2010 by joannagreer in News Around School

By Nimat Traore

“Kennedy families are on hold,” according to Sheila Pierre-Louis.

“When I got home from work yesterday my cousin told me and  I started crying because I have so much family in Haiti that I have yet to meet,” said senior Sheila Pierre-Louis.  “It is almost impossible that they all survived,” she said.   Her family lives in Port-au-Prince, the site of earthquake’s 7. 0 epicenter, and in a nearby town.

Haitian President Rene Preval said that the “toll was unimaginable” and many places have collapsed including hospitals, schools, government buildings, homes, and even the Haitian Parliament Building.  “When I saw the presidential palace on the internet today, I was horrified,” said Pierre-Louis.  “My mom and dad have bought so many calling cards, but it is pointless because the lines are just dead.”

Senior Emmanuel Boursiquot is another Kennedy student who has family members in Haiti.  He said his family is scared of the outcome the earthquake will have on not only his family but also on the country.  While he has never been to Haiti, he was supposed to go this coming summer.  “I don’t think I’m ever going to now,” he says.  Due to the earthquake the country is “destroyed, unsafe, and chaotic.”  He feels it is very unlikely that many people will be traveling there.

Pierre-Louis was also supposed to go to Haiti this summer after graduation.  Her family still has a home place there but it is all up in the air as her family awaits word on the condition of the relatives who are residing there.

Getting in contact with those in Haiti is “very hard,” says Boursiquot.  This is one of the things that aid groups are trying to fix so that out-of- country Haitians may contact family on the island.  “I just ask for people to keep, not only my family, but all Haitians in their prayers,” said Pierre-Louis.  She hopes that many will donate money to help the people of Haiti.