Joubert Richardson

The Impasse Joubert Richardson

The breathtaking narrative of the deadly assault on Jean De Lacroix and Pierre Beaujour aboard the ship La Mirabelle exposes the terrifying experience of boat people desperately searching for a way out of oppression and poverty. The two young men wanted a better life but they encountered insurmountable obstacles that forced them to face ruin and death. In the middle of the night, in a situation of extreme peril, they left Haiti for The Bahamas. La Mirabelle, a ship that ran an illegal business between the two nations, was the principal scene of their tragedy. The two friends were aware of the danger looming over the heads of boat people; but despite the risk of being robbed or even killed, they decided to make the trip. Under the cover of darkness, in a group of more than one hundred people, they left for Nassau. After horrendous suffering, they finally reached their destination. They worked on the island for eight years and accumulated enough money allowing them to return to their country. Because of problems associated with the political situation in Haiti, once again, they traveled aboard La Mirabelle headed by a new shipmaster; but a deadly surprise awaited them. Jean is killed and Pierre, seriously wounded, is left to die in the ocean. Their parents experienced a terrible ordeal. Chantale, Jean's fiancée, was deeply troubled by the tragic event. Jean was coming back to marry her. She quickly grew into a source of inspiration for the city's poets and their love story became a legendary tale. Gobino Chalamar Sr, the owner of La Mirabelle, had political resources allowing him to commit abusive actions with impunity. During the trip to The Bahamas, the two friends had experienced his rage and arrogance. On the way back to Haiti, Gobino Chalamar Jr, his son, was the shipmaster. Jean and Pierre fell victim to the young captain's shrewdness and cruelty. Their tragic adventure had given way to extraordinary events in the city of Port-de-Paix, their hometown. Under popular pressure, government authorities took appropriate police measures to apprehend the people guilty of that horrible crime. Pursued by soldiers of the Haitian Army, they were arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced to long prison terms.