Haiti is Not Serious–February 25, 2020

 

Port au Prince–Photo from the Internet–February 24, 2020

Things have not been going well in Haiti during the past 18 months.

And the last six months have been especially bad. Haiti has been shut down with street protests. President Jovenel Moise is ruling by decree because parliamentary elections, which were scheduled in October, were canceled.

Haitian police officers exchanged gunfire for hours Sunday with soldiers of the newly reconstituted army in downtown Port au Prince. At this point, the police are allegedly with the common man and are fighting the Army which is supporting the Haitian president.

Haitian Carnival, which was set to begin on Sunday, has now been cancelled to “avoid a bloodbath”. During the past week or so, Haitian police and their supporters burned down dozens of Carnival floats and stands saying that they did not think Haiti should be celebrating with the government spending money unwisely during an epic countrywide crisis.

And predictions from international experts state that from March until June there are expected to be 4.5 million Haitians on the verge of starvation. Yes, in 2020, 90 minutes from Miami, millions of people are on the verge of starving to death.

So all things considered, Haiti is not serious in functioning as a country respected by the outside world. And that is too bad for 11 million Haitians who could benefit by some respect and by some sincere help.

 

John A. Carroll, MD

www.haitianhearts.org