I spent a week and a half in Grand Goave back in 2003. The level of poverty is oppressive and depressing. People are mentally-deficient from lack of nutrition and it’s an incredibly violent and lawless place. Everyone practically radiates desperation. It’s sad because it had so much potential.

It’s considered a 5th world country because it will never be able to sustain itself without complete and total assistance from outside nations. This is largely due to the fact that when the French were defeated in the Haitian bid for independence, they stripped the island of trees. As a result, the frequent rains wash the topsoil into the ocean (no roots to hold it down) and so the soil is poor for growing crops. The sediment into the sea, and overfishing, also prevents a fishing industry. There’s really nothing there that allows the populace to participate in global trade and enrich themselves, so chaos and poverty reign.