Hebert Moise, 1965 - 2010
Driver (Haiti)
Hebert Moise, a national of Haiti, was a driver for the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).
A UN veteran, he worked in many UN missions in Haiti beginning in 1994 as a driver in the International Civilian Mission in Haiti (MICIVIH), a joint operation of the UN and the Organization of American States (OAS). From 2002 to 2007, he worked with the OA S Special Mission for Strengthening Democracy in Haiti, and joined MINUSTAH in 2007.
“He was one of the key members of our MICIVIH team,” wrote a colleague. “Drivers are always an essential part of any UN mission. They give us the additional sense of safety that helps us to do our jobs better. They frequently provide cultural insight, context, and nuance to the exceptional and everyday events that defined our working environment. Moise was no exception.”
“A soft-spoken and well-versed man who spoke Creole, English, French and Spanish, Hebert impressed his friends and colleagues with his calm personality,” said one colleague.
“The first thing that impressed me was his patience,” recalled another colleague who worked with Hebert. “It’s a quality that was needed for a driver, as they sit for long hours at the dispatch office or in the vehicles … In all the three years I was in Haiti, I never saw him lose his temper or speak badly of anyone.”
Acquaintances described him as “a hardworking man and who was always ready to lend a hand to his colleagues.”
“He patiently helped me with my Creole, repeating words and phrases I didn’t understand,” said a colleague.
“When he was not driving, he came to the office to inquire if we needed assistance,” recalled another who worked with him in the Finance Section of the UN Mission in Haiti (UNMIH), a predecessor of MINUSTAH. “He helped us with setting up the filing room and filing vouchers and other documents. Because of his interest in our work in the office, the chief of finance promoted him to clerk/driver.”
A Christian by faith, Hebert served as a pastor in his community in Kenscoff, recalled a friend. “He was religious, however, he kept his faith to himself, as he was a very discreet person,” he said.
Hebert also treated everybody with respect. “He was a believer that if you treat others with respect you will get the same respect back,” said a colleague. “Hebert was a perfect match to our work environment, because he was always in a good mood and always had positive thoughts to share with other colleagues.”
Hebert is survived by his wife, two sons, a daughter, his parents, two sisters and two brothers.