Pope offers prayers for Haiti

ROME (CMC):

Pope Francis Sunday offered prayers for Haiti, while a United States legislator is urging Prime Minister Dr Ariel Henry to “Do what is right for the Haitian people” and step down from office.

“I am following with concern and pain the serious crisis affecting Haiti and the violent episodes that have occurred in recent days,” the 87-year-old Pontiff said after his Sunday Angelus prayer.

“I am close to the Church and to the dear Haitian people who have suffered so much for years,” he said, offering prayers for an end to the violence and calling for all stakeholders to work towards peace and reconciliation, “with the renewed support of the international community”.

Henry, who came to power following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021, has been in Puerto Rico since last week, unable to enter his country after having travelled from Kenya where he signed an agreement allowing for a United Nations Security Council sanctioned international force led by the African country to restore peace and security in his troubled country.

But the criminal gangs that have all but taken over the capital, Port-au-Prince, said a new government would soon be installed with a judge, Durin Duret Jr, as chairman assisted by former rebel leader and former police commissioner Guy Philippe, and Francoise Saint-Vil Villier, from the religious sector.

“PM Henry and all the other members of the government must resign or they will face the consequences,” the outspoken and leftist political leader, Jean-Charles Moise told journalists.

THOUSANDS DISPLACED

The International Organization for Migration said the unrest has seen 362,000 Haitians internally displaced, more than half of them children and some forced to move multiple times.

Meanwhile, ,US Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus Mccormick as well as the co-chairs of the Haiti Caucus, are urging their colleagues to join the Biden-Harris administration and the international community in funding urgent aid aimed at restoring security in the French-speaking CARICOM country.

“The time has come for Prime Minister Ariel Henry to do what is right for the Haitian people. He should not return to Haiti, and he should immediately hand over power to a transitional consensus government. It is crucial that all parties in Haiti urgently put aside their differences and form a transitional government that does not include Ariel Henry, criminals and/or associated organisations. No one’s personal ambition is worth the blood of innocent Haitian live,” they said in a statement.

“We continue to be deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation in Haiti. At least 80 per cent of Port-au-Prince is under the control of the gangs, while de facto Prime Minister Ariel Henry is out of the country and has no credibility to lead.

“Last year alone, there were nearly 5,000 murders, 2,000 kidnappings, and more than 310,000 people who have been internally displaced. Gangs are routinely using sexual violence and have threatened to start a civil war. Enough is enough.

“We urge our colleagues in Congress to join the Biden-Harris Administration and the international community in funding urgent assistance to restore security for the Haitian people. Every day we wait for this critical funding, more Haitians will die. The clock is ticking,” the legislators added.