Edward ‘Eddie’ Richardson who hails from Hopewell, a village of the  Marriaqua Valley left Saint Vincent and Grenadines to migrate to the United Kingdom after teaching for a number of years.  However, he is now a missionary/evangelist and it is in this capacity that he visited Haiti recently.   Before talking about what inspired him to visit Haiti, he talks about what he did between leaving the shores of SVG and the present day.  In many ways, he demonstrates how he applies his secular experience with spreading the Word. 

Eddie leaves little to the imagination as he helps us make sense of some of the information that is being reported about and from Haiti.  In his words, some parts of Haiti looks as if the earthquake has just happened …where some people are using simple pickaxes in desperate attempts to reach those whose bodies are “entombed ” in the rubble.   He admits his sense of smell was not ‘all that’ and could not say much about that.  Other than that, he takes us through a vivid journey of the senses of sight and sound.  He cites two instances and laments the situation where two children, who are now cared for, were left to die and that this decision was based on the notion that it was best for them.

As for the issue of gang related crimes in Haiti and without endorsing these activities, Eddie explains how the situation that exists in Haiti does lend itself to crimes of every kind. 

Eddie highlights the good aspects of Haiti despite the suffering its people has to endure and how much they make of the little that is available.  For example, he cites the richness of the their culture and art, some of which is exported.  He also makes the point that it is important that the rest of the Caribbean especially the churches should make a concerted effort to work together to help the Haitian people.  One of the ways he suggests doing this is through micro-lending which is a very good business and a means through which the Haitian people can achieve sustainable development – rather than give a fish, teach them how to fish, he emphasizes.  In the case of the Church organisation with which Eddie is affiliated, they intend to establish links with organizations in Haiti that would help build some of the structures that are needed for housing and education.

Eddie proffers an explanation about his position as a missionary on the saying that all that is happening to the Haitian people is a form of punishment from God for their beliefs and practice in voodoo.  Included in that explanation, he makes it clear that any judgment of this kind should be left to God.

The interview with Mr. Edward Richardson can be heard here.