Jamaica should take the lead in helping Haiti
Published:Saturday | July 22, 2023 | 12:05 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
The recent influx of Haitians to Jamaica brings the country into sharp focus again. Haiti has moved from a country where wealth and natural resources was once in abundance, but now, because of exploitation from world powers, she is relegated to the last position on the socio-economic indicator scale.
Is it any wonder then that because of the horrendous social climate, its citizens have resorted to kidnapping, assaults and killings? Human life in that country has been devalued, and mere anarchy seems to reign. It seems that the curse of ‘Papa Doc and ‘Baby Doc’ is still on the nation. Any wonder, then, that people in Haiti want to escape to anywhere? It now seems they have found a safe route to Jamaica.
This contingent of 37 to Jamaica came right after CARICOM leaders met to discuss the situation in Haiti. We are yet to hear any concrete plans emerging from that meeting. If the international community cannot bond together to give Haiti a shot in its economic arm, the forecast for that country is grim, and they are going to seek ways to flee.
What galls me is the fact that the Government is deporting these people. It is said that the milk of human kindness never curdles, but I see here a lack of compassion and caring. It is my opinion that Jamaica could offer a safe haven for them. We need to be compassionate and rescue those who are subject to suffering and death.
Those who argue that Jamaica has its own problems and struggling to meet the needs of its own citizens would do well to remember that a lot of money comes via remittances. Also, we should never forget our motto, ‘Out of Many, One People’. We need to do better than Bahamians who made legislation to marginalise Haitians, to the point where they deny Bahamian citizenship to children born of Haitian parents in the country. Turks and Caicos has adopted similar posture and call them “non–belongers”. Jamaica ought to step up and offer refuge to those who may apply for residency here.
President Henry seems incompetent; and the police force is outnumbered, outarmed and out gunned. The people are living in distress – there is food insecurity, medical paucity, housing scarcity, academic degradation and social unrest. Prime Minister, how can we return these brave escapees to this inhumane situation?
The Church and businesses should collaborate with the Government and establish a Franco-Haitian community and provide decent accommodation and education. I would dare to say, Jamaica would do well to assimilate some Haitians in our culture, because they have a proven track record of being brilliant and industrious. We can learn a thing or two from them. CARICOM should put talk into action and help to rescue Haiti.
Please, don’t send them back Prime Minister. If you do, I opined with a recent article in one of the local newspapers that this would be “morally gangrenous …. . And such a decision would hit the moral nostril with a strong stench of hypocrisy”.
BURNETT ROBINSON