By Gareth Davis, Gleaner WriterFOR SOME Haitian refugees here, the violent clashes between rebel and government forces was not their only reason for fleeing.
Some simply want a better life in a different place. "Had life been so well with me and my family in Haiti, we would still be there," said Edy Berrette, a refugee.
Mr. Berrette said poor sanitation and a polluted water system in his homeland led to many illnesses, including cholera and typhoid.
"The streets are dirty and many of the districts are plagued by rats and mosquitoes due to seeping water from nearby toilets on to the roadway," he added.
Although many of the 134 refugees housed in Portland claim to have fled Haiti as a result of the political upheavals, some have indicated that even if peace is restored, they have no intention of returning.
